Health Workers’ Call – Ona Resign!

PRESS STATEMENT
November 24, 2012

Reference:

Mr. Jossel Ebesate, RN
President Alliance of Health Workers
Mobile No. 0918-9276381

Mr. Robert Mendoza, RM
Secretary General Alliance of Health Workers
Mobile No. 0932-4649757

“Depende, depende sa usapan,” was Sec. Ona’s response to a TV interview regarding status of the health workers’ security of tenure with the corporatization of public hospitals. Straight from the Sec. Ona’s mouth, this is the most blatant and eloquent proof of his ultimate disregard for the welfare of the health workers - the front liners in the health care delivery. Health workers’ security of tenure is among the contentious aspects with the privatization of public hospitals and health care delivery.

The Alliance of Health Workers (AHW), for the interest of the public especially the poor, clarifies its stand vis a vis his statements point by point:

1. Corporatization is not privatization, for us the name does not matter; it could be by any name. What matters is –how will health delivery be availed by the patients, will it be free upon the control of public hospitals by private partner investors? Our experience with the corporatized GOCC hospitals – the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI), the Philippine Heart Center (PHC) and the Lung Center of the Philippines free services are no longer available. At NKTI, the “no pay, no hook policy” has been the norm for patients undergoing dialysis. At PHC, a long list of patients, mostly indigents are waiting for operation and a number died along the wait.

2. Services will improve, according to Sec. Ona. It is a YES, no doubt. Private investors will improve their facilities to achieve a high level of competition for a lucrative return of investment. But will they be free? With GOCC’s as example, NO is the sure answer! Improved facilities do not translate into free services for patients especially the poor. Private investors’ main concern is a fat ROI, the very essence of their being private and not delivery of free public services.

3. PhilHealth will take care of the patients’ needs. At the very least, this is a very debatable issue. DOH endorses Philhealth as almost a ”cure all” for the Filipinos’ health problems. On the ground, however, experiences prove otherwise. If only Sec. Ona listens to what really is the true effects of this pre-need plan on the poor Filipinos’ health needs. Philhealth is part of privatization of health services, thus also for profits.

Sec. Ona claims, we do not understand or refuse to understand what he is saying to which we say, “We do understand you, but not believe you!”. More so, we gather information from both local and international experiences, compare and analyze data which led us to conclude what we are pointing out to him.

We might as well say,” Sec. Ona does not understand or refuse to understand our side”. Our message is clear and simple. When private investors are in control of hospitals and health facilities and health services are all paid for with no free services even for the indigents, it is privatization. DOH Health Financing Scheme clearly says that by 2020, public hospitals are fully corporatized with zero subsidy from the government.

We reiterate that we do not focus on terminologies like PPP, corporatization, privatization. These will just mislead people. Our bone of contention are the implications of these government neoliberal policies and programs, zealously implemented by Sec. Ona, to the Filipino people’s constitutional right to health which is government’s and not private investors’ responsibility. And the health workers’ security of tenure, the front liners in the health care delivery system that has not even been considered in the government's plan to privatize public hospitals.

Thus, Ona resign! is a most fitting call.#