Gov’t hospitals hit for charging fees

AROUND 50 women from Tondo, Manila, staged a demonstration on Tuesday to protest the fees being collected by government hospitals which should provide free services to residents.

With placards that read: “Dialysis, P1,800. Checkup, P200. Doctor’s fee, P200,” the women gathered at Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center on Delpan Street in Tondo.

“Now we have to pay for even the surgical gloves and thread [used by the doctor],” Adoracion Vera, community health team leader of Barangay 101, told the INQUIRER.

“This is a symbolic action,” Gabriela party-list Rep. Emmi de Jesus said. “The protest is addressed not only to the local government but also the national government. Our position is that social services, primarily healthcare, should be free.”

In 2011, the Commission on Audit urged the city government under then Mayor Alfredo Lim to charge minimal fees from nonresidents of Manila or seek financial assistance to sustain the operations of its six public hospitals.

“This is a direct result of the national policy of public-private partnership programs, including budget cuts in the national health budget and devolution of health services,” De Jesus said.

To cater to the poor, Mayor Joseph Estrada has implemented the distribution of orange cards to residents which would entitle them to free medical services.

But Vera, who assists baran- gay residents who need medical attention, lamented that only registered voters were given orange cards.

Dr. Rolan Mendiola, senior medical officer of Gat Andres hospital, maintained that they still provide free services to the city’s poor residents.

“Only non-Manila residents are charged. Even if you don’t have an orange card, as long as you’re an indigent resident, the services are free,” he said.

The mass action coincided with the celebration of the city’s 443rd foundation day.