Health Workers to DOH: Stop deceiving the public, stop the privatization of Philippine Orthopedic Center

Press Statement

References:

Mr. Jossel Ebesate, RN

Mobile No: 09189276381

Mr. Robert Mendoza, RM
Mobile No. 0932-4649757

Members of AHW and some urban poor group in front of NKTI main gate yeterday June 4 opposing the privatization of POC. Yesterday was the scheduled last day of bid submission for the private construction and operation of a "modernized" POC.

The Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) told the Department of Health (DOH) to stop deceiving the public in pursuing public-private partnership (PPP) of the Philippine Orthopedic Center (POC).

“The DOH is doing a disservice to the Filipino people by consciously making it appear that PPP will benefit the people. Based on our experience in most public hospitals,  PPP of selected services only jacked up the price of health services at the expense of our poor patients,” said Jossel Ebesate, national president of AHW.

Ebesate reacted to the statement yesterday of DOH Undersecretary Ted Herbosa: "that PPP is not privatization and that PPP and BOT will not alter the service provision to patients."

Ebesate stressed that indeed modernization and improvement of public hospital facilities is long overdue but this should be done by the government and should not be passed on to private investors.

“Provision of public health services is an essential government function and responsibility. Once private investors are allowed into health service provision, whether through PPP, corporatization, or outright sale, the primary purpose is huge profit generation, thus replacing service orientation.

People's safety and lives should not be left to the profiteering whims of the private investors. If the government is indeed sincere in improving people's health, it should allot adequate fund and invest in public health services,” said Ebesate.  

Health workers and anti-privatization advocates under the AHW, the Network Opposed to Privatization, and Koalisyon Laban sa Pagsasapripado ng POC staged a protest action yesterday in front of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute while the bidding for POC modernization was going on. #