Palace clinic to be partially operational for indigents

In an apparent bid to appease the public, Malacañang announced yesterday that its clinic from the main Palace building would be partially operational and would continue to provide certain services to the poor.

Press Undersecretary Isabel de Leon said the laboratory, x-ray and dialysis facilities would still be made available to poor patients as per the advice of Deputy Executive Secretary Susan Vargas. The Palace refused to elaborate on the matter.

President Arroyo’s decision to transfer the Malacañang clinic to the highly secured headquarters of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) across the Pasig River drew criticisms and a strong objection from deposed President Joseph Estrada the other day.

Estrada said the clinic would become inaccessible to the public, particularly poor patients who want to avail themselves of the free dialysis treatment.

Earlier, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita confirmed the transfer of the Malacañang clinic to the PSG compound to upgrade the services of the PSG hospital.

But after hearing the concerns of indigent patients, Ermita said they would continue to serve the public even if it is transferred to the PSG hospital.

"We will find out how we can overcome the security problem especially those who want to avail of the services of the Malacañang clinic," Ermita said.

Estrada deplored as "heartless" the clinic’s relocation and exhorted President Arroyo not to close it down.The former president said he had received "frantic calls" from indigent patients, especially those who would be deprived the free dialysis treatment which they had been getting from the clinic.

Of the 15 dialysis machines being used at the Malacañang clinic, 10 were donations from Japan secured by former first lady, now Sen. Luisa Ejercito, also a physician.

When he was president and he learned that patients had to pay as much as P3,000 per session of dialysis, Estrada ordered that it should be given free to indigent patients. He said people should not die just because they could not afford the treatment.

On short notice last Monday, Malacañang clinic director Dr. Rolando Deduyo received verbal instructions for the transfer of the entire clinic personnel and equipment within a week to the PSG hospital.

The notice of transfer was relayed to Deduyo by Vargas who informed him about the supposed "verbal" instructions of Mrs. Arroyo to vacate the premises. — Aurea Calica