Nurses unite! Struggle for rights and people’s right to health!

PRESS STATEMENT

May 12, 2014

Reference: Jossel I Ebesate

AHW National President

Mobile No. 0918 927 6381

Today, on the occasion of International Nurses’ Day, the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) -Philippines express our solidarity with the Filipino nurses and all nurses in the world who continue to offer their skills and knowledge in service of the people and stand up for people’s right to health amidst worsening economic and political crises and attacks on our rights.

As the national organization of health workers in the Philippines, we in AHW share the nurses’ dream of a united nurses and health care workers dedicated to providing services to those who need these most. We are one with the nurses and the people in our vision of a healthy society where the people and health workers are empowered and can contribute to health and development.

But we see that the people’s health situation is worsening as people’s health and interests are sacrificed in the name of profit and business interests.  We witness the suffering and deaths of many people who are impoverished, could not afford the increasing cost of public and private health care, and deprived of basic needs while those in power steal public funds, grab people’s lands and play puppet to foreign dictates. 

At the same time, we ourselves suffer from violation of our rights to jobs, living wage, benefits, and unionize. For instance, our fellow nurses in Tondo Medical Center go on duty for 16-32 hours. Nurses in government hospitals get a pay of P 18,549/month (Salary Grade 11), below the mandated Salary Grade 15 in Nursing Act of 2002 and way below the P30,000/month minimum cost of living in the NCR. Nurses in private hospitals and institutions suffer more with P6,000-P10,000 entry level monthly wages, without hazard pay and no job security. 

We realize that our commitment to serve the people is never easy when the situation that breeds poverty and ill-health continues to exist. We cannot fully save lives when lack of personnel, supplies, equipment and facilities, and poor governance ail our public health care system.   We cannot provide adequate and quality health services when our ranks need deliverance from chronic understaffing, contractualization, low and subhuman wages, poor working conditions, harassments and violation of rights. We cannot dream of better health for the people as long as the government privatizes public hospitals and health care, takes away whatever little free services the poor people receive and threatens to dislocate the poor patients and health workers.

We see that our duty to serve the people goes beyond learning the most advanced technologies and equipment in health care or reaching unreachable health statistics targets. As nurses of the people, we are duty-bound to work with the people, start where they are, uphold their interests alongside with our interests, and stand up for rights and justice.  Our duty brings us on the side of our patients and the people against threats to health and our rights, like privatization, fee for service, contractualization and streamlining, wage freeze, unreasonable power and water rates hike.  Our duty necessitates that we struggle together with our patients and the people for free, affordable, and accessible health care towards a society freed from local and foreign domination, oppression and exploitation.

This day and the days and years to come, we call on all Filipino nurses to serve the people and uphold our rights and people’s right to health, like Florence Nightingale and our own Filipino nurse-heroes like Nazaria Lagos (1851-1945), Minda Luz Quesada (1937-1995), and Mary Vita Jackson, who served the people and fellow health care workers inspite of risks and hardships. Let us stand up, unite with fellow health workers and the Filipino people, and together work for genuine societal change. # 

Mayo 7: Singilin ang Pamahalaang Aquino, Ipagpatuloy ang 30 taong pakikibaka para sa Kalusugan at Karapatan!

Pambansang Araw ng mga Manggagawang Pangkalusugan ngayon. Kasabay ng paggunita sa mga tagumpay at aral sa 30 taong pakikibaka ng Alliance of Health Workers,  papanagutin natin ang Pamahalaang Aquino sa patuloy na pag-abandona sa kalusugan ng mamamayan at karapatan ng manggagawang pangkalusugan!

Itaguyod natin at ipaglaban ang mga tagumpay sa loob ng 30 taong pakikibaka ng AHW mula nang itatag ito noong 1984. Sa pamamagitan ng sama-samang pagkilos, naipagtagumpay natin ang:

Ø  Dagdag na sweldo mula pa 1980’s, ngunit nananatiling kakarampot at di nakabubuhay ang sweldong ibinibigay ng Pamahalaang Aquino;

Ø  Pagsasabatas ng Magna Carta of Public Health Workers (RA 7305) na batayan ng mga benepisyong hazard pay, subsistence allowance, laundry pay, longevity allowance; bagamat paulit-ulit itong binabawi ng pamahalaan, sa pinakahuli sa klasipikasyong high risk-low risk sa pamamagitan ng DBM-DOH Joint Circular No 1; 

Ø  Pagpapatalsik sa kurakot, kontra-manggagawa at kontra-pasyenteng mga hospital direktor noong 1980’s hanggang 1990’s;

Ø  Paglaban sa tanggalan/streamlining – sa dalawang pagkakataon ng reorganissyon/tanggalan, nagawang mapanatili ang ilang daang libong mga posisyon at naisabatas ang RA 6655 na nagseseguro sa security of tenure ng mga kawani sa pamahalaan. Pero tinutuloy ng Pamahalaang Aquino ang streamlining tungo sa kontraktwalisasyon sa pammaagitan ng EO 366 /Rationalization Plan na basehan ng New Organizational Structure and Staffing Pattern sa mga pampublikong ospital;

Ø  Paglaban sa pribatisasyon ng mga pampublikong ospital  – tagumpay na napatigil noong 1997 ngunit walang habas na itinutuloy muli ni Panguong Aquino sa PPP ng Philippine Orthopedic Hospital at 72 hospitals sa buong bansa, korporatsoasyon at iba pang porma; at

Ø  Pagtataguyod sa karapatan sa pag-uunyon, Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA), pagpapahayag at paglulunsad ng kilos-protesta.

Walang makabuluhang napagbabago sa kalagayan ng mga manggagagawang pangkalusugan at mamamayan sa ilalim ng Administrasyong Aquino. Nagpapalit-palit ang mga pangulo ngunit kagaya ng mga naunang rehimen, itinutuloy ng Pamahalaang Aquino ang  kontra-mamamayan at kontra-manggagawang polisiyang papaliit na badyet para sa kagalingan ng mamamayan, streamlining at kontraktwalisasyon, pribatisasyon, mababang sahod at kulang na benepisyo.

Pinatunayan ng Pamahalaang Aquino ang pagiging sunud-sunuran sa dikta ng panginoong maylupa, burgesya komprador at monopolyo kapitalistang Estados Unidos. Tanging mga local at dayuhang burgesya at monopolyo kapitalista ang nakikinabang sa programang Kalusugang Pangkalahatan na nakapadron sa Obama Care. Sa Two-tiered Wage System lalong ipapako sa napakababang sahod ang mga manggagawa samantalang wala ni singkong dagadag sa sweldo na ibingay ang administrasyong Aquino sa mga kawani ng pamahalaan at manggagawang pangkalusugan.  Nitong Abril pinagkasunduan ni Pangulong Aquino at US President Barrack Obama ang Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) na magbabalik sa base-militar ng Estados Unidos sa bansa, sa kabila ng pagtututol ng mamamayan batay sa unconstitutionality, mapait na mga karanasan ng paglabag sa karapatan ng tropang Amerikano, at pagyurak sa soberanya ng bansa.

Walang ibang pagpipilian ang manggagawang pangkalusugan at mamamayan kundi palakasin ang hanay at ipagpatuloy ang laban para sa ating karapatan bilang manggagawang pangkalusugan at karapatan ng mamamayan sa kalusugan. Tanging sa sama-samang pagkilos lamang natin malalabanan ang kontra-mamamayang polisiya at maitatayo ang isang sistemang pangkalusugang tunay na  magsisilbi sa mamamayan at manggagawang pangkalusugan.

Singilin ang Pamahalaang Aquino sa pag-abandona sa kanyang responsibilidad sa mamamayan at  mga manggagawang pangkalusugan!

Ipagpatuloy  ang 30 taong pakikibaka ng mga manggagawang pangkalusugan para pang-ekonomiya, demokratiko at pampulitikang karapatan at kalusugan ng mamamayan!

Health workers, patients, seek high court intervention to stop privatization of Orthopedic Hospital

PRESS RELEASE

February 3, 2014

References: Sean Herbert Velchez, RN, NOHWU-AHW President, 0949-9775037

Jossel Ebesate, RN, AHW National President, 0918-9276381      

  

Health workers, patients and people's health advocates from Philippine Orthopedic Center and other hospitals and institutions filed a petition for certiorari and prohibition today in the Supreme Court in a bid to stop the privatization of the only government orthopedic hospital in the country.

"President Benigno Aquino IIII and Department of Health Secretary Enrique Ona are deaf to the peoples' clamor to stop privatization. We hope the Supreme Court justices will have the heart and mind to listen and consider the people's health and welfare," said Sean Velchez, president of National Orthopedic Hospital Workers' Union - Alliance of Health Workers (NOHWU-AHW), and one of the petitioners in the case.

The petitioners raised the questions of constitutionality, procedural concerns and negative effects to poor patients and health workers of the privatization of POC.

“This is a fight not only by POC health workers and patients but by the entire Filipino people. This is a fight for our right to health,” said Jossel Ebesate, national president of Alliance of Health Workers and a chief nurse in the Philippine General Hospital.

Atty. Edre Olalia, chief legal counsel for the petitioners and secretary-general of the National Union of People's Lawyers (NUPL) said that it is high time that people's health be taken up as a demandable right in our justice system. The counsels took inspiration from retired Chief Justice Reynato Puno's statement in July that socio-economic rights like housing and health are justiciable rights.

Aside from Velchez and Ebesate, the petitioners also include, among others, patients from POC,  Dr. Amelia Maglacas, former World Health Organization (WHO) nurse-scientist,  Representatives Neri Colmenares and Carlos Zarate of Bayan Muna PartyList, Representative Terry Ridon of Kabataan PartyList, Dr. Fresco Yapendon of Philippine Association of Medical Specialists, Dr. Joseph Carabeo of Community Medicine Development Foundation, and Eleanor Nolasco of Nars ng Bayan.

The group vowed to continue their protest against the privatization of POC and other public hospitals and health services. #

Suportahan ang kaso sa Korte Suprema laban sa pribatisasyon ng Orthopedic Hospital! Labanan ang pribatisasyon

Ngayong Lunes, ika-3 ng Pebrero 2014, isasampa sa Korte Suprema ang petisyon ng mga manggagawang pangkalusugan, pasyente, mga kinatawan ng iba’t ibang organisasyon sa kalusugan at komunidad laban sa pribatisasyon ng Philippine Orthopedic Center.

Bulag, bingi, at manhid ang Pamahalaang Benigno Aquino III, at Department of Health Secretary Enrique Ona sa malawak na panawagan ng mamamayan sa pagbasura ng pribatisasyon ng POC at pampublikong serbisyong pangkalusugan. Rurok ng kawalang puso nang aprubahan ni Pangulong Aquino ang proyektong Public-Private Partnership ng POC noong Nobyembre 21 sa kasagsagan ng relief operation para sa mga survivors ng Bagyong Yolanda. Disyembre 6, inilabas ng DOH ang pormal na notice of award sa Megawide-World Citi Consortium para sa 25 taong pagtatayo at pagpapatakbo ng bagong Orthopedic Hospital.

Negosyo ang nasa likod ng pribatisasyon ng POC. Sa loob ng 25 taon, na maaaring maging 50 taon, pagkakakitaan at pagtutubuan ng pribadong Megawide-World Citi Consortium ang Orthopedic Hospital. Madidisplace ang libu-libong mahihirap na pasyente at manggagawang pangkalusugan ng POC.

Taliwas sa ipinagyayabang ng DOH at Pamahalaang Aquino na para sa mahihirap ang bagong Orthopedic Hospital, 70 lamang na kama ang nakalaan sa mahihirap na pasyente, kumpara sa 560-630 bilang ng mahihirap na in-patients sa POC ngayon. 80-90% ng halos 200,000 pasyente ng POC noong taong 2010 ay mahihirap.

Nanganganib ang kaseguruhan sa trabaho at karapatan ng mahigit 900 manggagawang pangkalusugan sa POC dahil ang pribadong investor ang mamimili at kukuha ng empleyado at hindi obligadong kilalanin ang kasalukuyang union ng mga manggagawa.

Kapag napatupad ang pribatisasyon ng POC, hudyat ito ng tuluy-tuloy at lubusang pribatisasyon ng iba pang pampublikong ospital at ng pampublikong serbisyong pangkalusugan. Krisis pangkalusugan ang hahantungan nito dahil wala nang tatakbuhan ang mahihirap na pasyente.

Huwag tayong magsawalang-kibo!  Huwag nating hintaying lubusang mawala ang kakaunting libreng serbisyong nakukuha natin sa mga pampublikong pagamutan. Responsibilidad ng pamahalaan ang pagbibigay ng libre hanggang abot-kaya, kumprehensibo at de-kalidad na serbisyong pangkalusugan.  Buwis mula sa pawis at dugo ng mamamayang naghihikahos ang nagpapatakbo sa mga pampublikong ospital at sa pamahalaan, kaya dapat lamang na maibigay ng gubyerno ang libreng serbisyong nakalaan sa mamamayan!

Ipaglaban ang karapatan sa kalusugan!

Health Workers to the UN: Be a true instrument to end social injustice, and attain health for all

Press Release
17 September 2013

Reference:

Mr. Jossel I. Ebesate, RN

National President

Alliance of Health Workers

Philippines

Contact No: +63-918-9276381

Today, September 17, 2013, marks the opening of the 68^th Annual session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly where 193 member countries meet “to discuss the steps necessary to improve issues of people everywhere” and at a time when there is widespread and deepening social ills and injustices.

For 68 years, these world leaders who compose this deliberative policy making and organ representative of the United  Nations gather once a year to discuss vital  issues such as poverty, peace, security, human rights, health and disease, inequality and environment”. At this time, world economic  crisis has worsened and health and health care have been directed more by economic policies which are geared towards profit generation.

 The Alliance of Health Workers in solidarity with the Global Nurses United's Global Day of Action, condemns the worsening Philippine health situation brought about by government policies which make the delivery of health services more inaccessible and anti-people. The Aquino government remained numb to the people’s protests against its centerpiece program - the Public Private Partnership including the delivery of health services which essentially privatizes public hospitals and public health services.  This further deprives the poor of the much needed services. The privatization of health has began during the Marcos era and has continued throughout the years, with the Philippine governments having the same template though with different names. Now the Aquino’s Universal Health Care is composed of strategies of health insurance and privatization of public hospitals and other health services. This is nothing but a final step towards the abandonment of state responsibility for people’s health.

With this profit- orientation, it follows that the health workers’ working conditions, wages and benefits have gone from bad to worst. The nurses and health workers suffer from long hours of duty and unjust work overload. The nurse to patient ratio is in average of 1 nurse to 30-40 patients in medical or surgical wards or even up to 100-250 patients in psychiatric wards. There is severe understaffing, with one health worker – a utility worker (UW) covering 2-3 wards, which normally should be covered by 3-6 UWs.  The contractualization, in various forms, which violates the right of any health worker to his/her right to security of tenure, just compensation and benefits, has been a national phenomenon. There are government nurses who are under “job orders” for 3-5 years or has been “casual employees” for 20 years.

“The World Health Organization, as  the trusted authority in directing and coordinating health issues within the United Nations' structure (WHO), should assist developing countries like the Philippines in “attaining the highest possible level of health” through programs which are appropriate and relevant. Like the Health for All by the year 2000, the MDGs (Millennium Development Goals) of the UN together with the IMF-WB, which are said to be a set of development targets for the poor by 2015, is most likely to fail. With less than 1000 days to go, the goal to reduce maternal mortality for example, is very far from the target of 52 per 100,000/live births.

Considering that policies and programs imposed by international financial institutions, i.e. IMF/WB/ADB, are primarily geared for the benefits of big business rather than real development of the people, the Filipinos and other developing countries can never have a healthy living with the worsening economic and political situation that further deprived of them of their right to health. The top down approach to “development” as viewed by big business and being promoted and implemented by international financial institutions, and also transcends to multilateral agencies like the UN and WHO, is further compounded at the national level by national and local politicians who viewed government as a business, where they could amass power and wealth as exemplified by the “P10B Napoles scandal”, at the expense direct services to the people.

Thus, we, the health workers who are witnesses to the daily sufferings of the Filipino people due to social injustice including extreme poverty,  lack of health services, unemployment and lack of basic housing, call on the WHO and the United Nations to stand side by side with the people.  It is not enough to diagnose poverty and prescribe goals and programs for developing countries like the Philippines. The United Nations should truly be an instrument to help end social injustice and uplift the people’s conditions of misery, deprivation and exploitation. Health, being a basic right should never be used for profit and should remain mainly as a state responsibility.