ALAMAPA-Cagayan de Oro City

ALAMAPA-Cagayan de Oro City updated their address.

8 nursing schools in N. Mindanao closed CAGAYAN DE ORO -- The Commission on Higher Education (Ched) closed down the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program of eight higher educational institutions (HEI) in Northern Mindanao.

A 28 year old female patient complained skin allergies all around her body and difficulty of breathing for 1 week. She went to the hospital for medication. She was given anti-allergy tablets. She was unsatisfied of the result. So she went to our clinic for acupuncture sessions. After 30 minutes of session of the first session, she felt relieved. After 3 succeeding sessions the skin allergies all around her body is gone..

Visit Community Based Health Services - Northern Mindanao new Acupuncture clinic in Cagayan de Oro City

Banning home births to worsen, not improve maternal death rate In Nueva Ecija, a woman who was about to give birth walked and crossed a river to get to the nearest birthing facility. The mother and the child died before reaching the nearest birthing station.

House Bills 6069, 6145 and Senate Bill 3130 aims to convert 26 public hospitals under the Department of Health into government owned and controlled corporations. Among its aims and objectives include: to enable government turned into corporate hospitals to be self-perpetrating, revenue generating, flexibility in managing hospital assets and funds, engage in public-private partnership and save funds for the national government. A "clear and present danger" of the privatization mindset of the Pnoy government.

Oppose privatization of public hospitals! Oppose state abandonment of health care! No to privatization of public hospitals.

The Aquino administration boasts that the RN Heals program is one of its achievements. But NARS ng Bayan, a national association of community health nurses and people’s health advocates, has a contrary view. In fact, NARS sees RN Heals essentially as a form of exploitation.

‘RN Heals is essentially a form of exploitation’ The Aquino administration boasts that the RN Heals program is one of its achievements. But NARS ng Bayan, a national association of community health nurses and people’s health advocates, has a contrary view. In fact, NARS sees RN Heals essentially as a form of exploitation. RN Heals hires li...

Casino slam upgraded hospital "pawnshops"
DOH Sec. Ona uninformed, says will fire director

Partylist Representative Teddy Casiño slammed the continued "pawnshop" practice of the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) which preys on the desperation of poor patients who are forced to give up personal belongings to cover their hospital bills.

At yesterday’s Congressional deliberation on the budget of the Department of Health (DOH), Casiño reminded Health Secretary Enrique Ona of last year's hearing when the progressive solon exposed the said practice as revealed by a memorandum issued by the hospital. He asked if it has really been stopped in light of the past DOH statements to the media that they are finding other ways to address the issue of unpaid hospital bills.

"If this was not stopped I will fire the director," Secretary Ona immediately said.

However, Casiño revealed a memorandum (Memorandum no 65 series 2012) signed by PCMC Director Julius Lecciones for a July 25 - August 10 bidding and sale of “collaterals." A separate invitation to bid document listed various objects for auction.

"Nag-level up na po ang hospital pawnshop operations natin," Casiño announced. "Sa halip na individual items, they are now selling by lot."

Among the items listed are 10 units of camera, 21 units of DVD players, 46 items of jewelry, 13 units of gadgets including iPod, 92 watches and 16 units of various properties.

The lowest lot costs some P5,000 (MP3/MP4 players) and the highest P53,780 (watches).

"Baka pwede po ipasa na natin sa Lhuillier at Villarica yung pawnshops...ask them na pumwesto sa tabi, sila na magpatakbo," the lawmaker joked.

“Requiring patients to turn-over their valuables as “collateral” for unpaid bills is heartless and unjust, if not tasteless. Kawawa na yung pasyente, kukuhanan pa natin ng kung ano-anong pagmamay-ari. This is feeding on the misery of poor patients,” said Casiño. “Should public hospitals resort to such practices to cover the severely insufficient budget for hospitals?”

Under the proposed budget for 2013, government subsidy which is allocated for service patients (poor patients subsidized by the state) to PCMC will be cut by P100M, from P445M this year to P345M.

Casiño first exposed the practice of collecting “collateral” items from patients to pay for unpaid bills in the DOH budget hearing last year. The DOH first defended the practice explaining that Republic Act 9439 (or the law prohibiting the detention of patients in hospitals and medical clinics on grounds of nonpayment of hospital bills or medical expenses) gives a hospital the permission to impose such policy. However, they also said that they are working on other programs that would provide free health services instead. During the pre-plenary budget hearing of Government-Owned and Controlled Corporation (GOCC) hospitals September last year, PCMC Director Lecciones reported that the hospital has stopped the practice .

“The continuing practice of “collateral” in public hospitals should immediately stop. It breaks my heart to see our hospitals resorting to these kinds of things. This malpractice is a clear indication of the grave need to increase the budget of public hospitals instead of corporatizing them,” said Casiño. # # #

Health not priority under Aquino’s 2013 budget - Bulatlat Philippines news, breaking news, special reports, blogs, opinion, multimedia

HALF TRUTHS. The Health Alliance for Democracy and the Alliance of Health Workers said Aquino’s claims in his State of the Nation Address on Monday about the status of healthcare in the country were made up of “half-truths” that did not reflect the actual situation of many Filipinos.

Health workers: Aquino lying about state of health - InterAksyon.com Two organizations of health workers were not impressed by President Benigno Aquino's pronouncements of his administration's achievements in health, claiming he had been falsely informed.

About 250 leaders from hospital unions, health professional organizations, community leaders, academics and other health activists were gathered yesterday (July 18, 2012) at the Social Hall of the University of the Philippines Manila to share ideas on current issues besetting the country's health care delivery system, formulate a unity statement and a general plan of action. Essentially, our call to the Pnoy government: provide adequate funds for health care, no to privatization of public hospitals and health services. The conference was organized by the Network Opposed to Privatization of Health Services, in which the Alliance of Health Workers is among the convenor.

Prop-action sa Mendiala Bridge para sa panawagangg P6,000.00 dagda sa minimum pay ng mga kawani ng gobyerno! Ngayon na! Ipaglaban!. Ito ang ating panawagan sa isang kilusang tinawag natin na Wage Fight - na binubuo ng COURAGE, Allliance of Concerned Teachers at Alliance of Health Workers.

HEALTH FOR ALL? Health Department officials this week said that starting next year, government hospitals will phase out the charity wards in government hospitals that treat poor patients for free. Under the administration’s grand scheme, these patients will now get “full health care coverage” under PhilHealth, the state insurance company.

No boon for poor patients - Manila Standard Today Health Department officials this week said that starting next year, government hospitals will phase out the charity wards in government hospitals that treat poor patients for free. Under the administration’s grand scheme, these patients will now get “full health care coverage” under PhilHealth, the ...

Mahigit anim na buwan nang hindi pa rin ina-aksyunan ng DBM at ng gobyernong Pnoy ang hindi pagbibigay sa Hazard Pay at iba pang benepisyo ng mga public health workers sa ilalim ng Magna Carta of Public Health Workers (RA 7305) kaya sa pang-apat na pagkakataon ay muli tayong sumugod sa DBM para kalampagin ang natutulog nilang diwa! Tuloy-tuloy ang laban hanggang sa tagumpay!

INCREASED PAY AND ALLOWANCES FOR PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS SOUGHT A party-list lawmaker has moved to address the problem of public health workers who have yet to receive an increase in their subsistence and laundry allowances which were pegged at P50 a day and P150 a month, respectively more than a decade ago.

Health workers demand hazard pay - The Philippine Star » News » Headlines  Around 150 members of the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) staged a rally yesterday at the Department of Health (DOH) central office in Tayuman, Manila to reiterate their demand for the release of their hazard pay.

Hospital workers from Philippine Orthopedic Center hold picket rally today June 27, 2012 in protest to the continued delay in payment of their benefits as they hit the government’s plan to lend $1B to International Monetary Fund and buy new jet fighters worth P15B. “Our patients and health workers in public hospitals like ours are long crippled by inadequate health budget, but the Aquino government has the nerve to lend $1B to “help” other countries and spend billions of pesos for jetfighters!” said Sean Velches, president of National Orthopedic Hospital Workers’ Union – Alliance of Health Workers (NOHWU-AHW). Siince January of the year, hospital workers are protesting against the cuts and delays in Magna Carta benefits worth P2,000-8,000/month. The Department of Budget Management points to the provision in the General Appropriations Act requiring DBM approval prior to the use of savings for benefits. Despite health workers’ demand for immediate release of benefits, the DOH recently issued Memorandum Order No. 2012-0181 stopping the release of hazard pay.

STOP THE DECEPTION. The government has found a new way of creating jobs for unemployed nurses in the country. But for progressive health workers, this new employment scheme of the Department of Health (DOH) is deceiving and exploits newly-registered nurses.

Gov’t temporary employment program for nurses ‘exploitative’ - Bulatlat Philippines news, breaking news, special reports, blogs, opinion, multimedia

SERVE THE PEOPLE. Life is getting more and more difficult nowadays and many Filipinos have been seeking work abroad. Health professionals for one opt to work abroad for the betterment of their family’s lives. But registered nurses Christ Ian Mostrales, 27 and Sean Herbert Velches, 27, chose to stay in the country despite the offers to work abroad.

Finding fulfillment in serving the poor - Bulatlat Philippines news, breaking news, special reports, blogs, opinion, multimedia

On Health Workers Day, health workers reiterate demand for salary hike, stop to privatization - Bul Philippines news, breaking news, special reports, blogs, opinion, multimedia

Health workers urge DBM to stop making excuses, release their benefits The Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) has called on the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to stop making “palusot” (excuses) and instead approv...

Progressive lawmakers and health workers on Monday opposed a bill seeking to convert 26 public hospitals into government-owned corporation status. Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Teodoro Casiño said House Bill (HB) 6069, authored by Bacolod Anthony Golez Jr., will ultimately affect the poor who cannot pay for hospital fees if the measure is passed into law.

Solons, health workers wary of bill corporatizing 26 public hospitals Progressive lawmakers and health workers on Monday opposed a bill seeking to convert 26 public hospitals into government-owned corporation status.

False Volunteerism and Trainings exploit thousands of Filipino Nurses every day! There are ZERO reasons to support these unethical and harmful practices. Please SHARE, and let us educate all Nurses and their families that this has to stop immediately...

NEED TO REVIEW. As far as the poor patients of seven big government hospitals are concerned, the law’s positive impact seems negligible, if not zero. These are the Philippine General Hospital, San Lazaro Hospital, Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center, Tondo Medical Center, Philippine Heart Center, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, and East Avenue Medical Center.

Cheaper medicines law hasn't served the poor - AT GROUND LEVEL By Satur C. Ocampo - The Philippine S Four years ago last June 6, the Cheaper Medicines Law (Republic Act 9502, the Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of 2008) passed after contentious debates in the 14th Congress, was signed into law by President Gloria M. Arroyo.

Makabayan bloc decries railroading of corporatization of public hospitals | Makabayan The Makabayan Coalition today lambasted the railroading of House Bill 6069 converting 26 public hospitals into government corporations, the group said that they would initiate moves to return the anti-poor bill to the committee level because it would definitely mean higher hospital fees for all. Ma...

No to corporatization of public hospitals!

Makabayan bloc decries railroading of corporatization of public hospitals
Moves to return anti-poor bill to committee level

The Makabayan Coalition today lambasted the railroading of House Bill 6069 converting 26 public hospitals into government corporations, the group said that they would initiate moves to return the anti-poor bill to the committee level because it would definitely mean higher hospital fees for all. Makabayan is a political coalition that is presently comprised of eight Philippine progressive parties: Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela, Kabataan, COURAGE, Migrante, ACT Teachers and Katribu.

According to Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño, “what the Committee on Health did was below the belt and borders on being a conspiracy. The hasty approval of the bill in the committee last Wednesday, May 16, violated the rules of the House of Representatives since stakeholders and affected sectors were not given sufficient notice, time and opportunity to air their concerns.

Saying the committee did not even include the measure as an agenda in the notice of meeting, Casiño said he would move to recommit the measure to the committee next week for further deliberation.

As for his part Kabataan Partylist Rep. Raymond Palatino said that the move of the committee is patently underhanded and is just another means for the private-public partnership (PPP) program of the Aquino administration to take off. But this is just another name for privatization and would mean lesser budget for health services. Essentially the government is rescinding its responsibility to provide better health care to its people. Instead of allotting more funds for basic services like health and education the Aquino administration is opting to make a profit out of it,”

Meanwhile Gabriela Women’s party Rep. Luz Ilagan said that this would definitely be very detrimental to women and children because they are the majority of the patients in these hospitals.

Casiño further explained that with the experience with the 4 GOCC hospitals now, it is not far off that the public hospitals to be converted would become like malls or pawnshops. “To date in the Lung Center of the Philippines (LCP), only the services of the doctor is free, all the facilities, medicine, food, rooms have fees even for Class D patients, even the consultation at the out-patient department (OPD),”

“In the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC), poor patients are forced to be admitted as pay patients because they would be admitted as charity patients (there are always no beds available in charity wards). Many of these patients fall prey to the collateral system or pawning whatever valuables they have to the hospital so that they can check out. But with HB 6069 this is bound to get worse that is why we will do all we can to stop and reverse it,” ended Casiño.

The DOH-supervised hospitals to be converted into corporations are:: Cagayan Valley Medical Center, Veterans Regional Hospital, Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center, Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center, Regional Medical Center, Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center, Jose B. Lingad Memorial Medical Center, Bicol Medical Center (Naga City), Bicol Research Training and Teaching Hospital (Legaspi City), Quirino Memorial Medical Center, Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center, Rizal Medical Center, Amang Rodriguez Medical Center, San Lazaro Hospital, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center, Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital, Western Visayas Medical Center, Northern Mindanao Medical Center, Southern Philippines Medical Center, Zamboanga City Medical Center, Cotobato Regional and Medical Center, CARAGA Regional Hospital, Davao Regional Hospital, Mayor Hilarion A. Ramiro, Sr. Regional Center and Training Hospital. # # #

BAND-AID SOLUTION. “Baldoz’s call shows that the Aquino government only has an ad hoc employment plan, not a comprehensive and sustainable one. After creating a glut of nursing graduates who failed to find jobs abroad, the government is now calling on them to apply for the limited number of jobs in the BPO industry,” KMU chairman Elmer Labog said in a statement.

Labor group slams Baldoz over advice to nurses A militant labor group on Sunday slammed Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz for advising jobless nurses to apply at call centers or other components of the country’s business process outsourcing (BPO) sector.

In this country, poor cancer patients who go to public hospitals for treatment have remote chances of surviving.

My mother’s journey - Bulatlat Philippines news, breaking news, special reports, blogs, opinion, multimedia