For a healthy nation

These days, companies have taken into their hands social responsibility and commitment to the progress and development of Philippine society. To exercise corporate responsibility, the Zuellig Group of Companies established the Zuellig Foundation last year in celebration of their centennial since the company’s founding by Dr. Frederick Edward Zuellig.

Consequently, the Zuellig Group of Companies has been contributing to worthy projects in the country, covering the fields of health care, housing, community development, and arts and culture. It has provided support to international humanitarian organizations such as Operation Smile and Habitat for Humanity.

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A new policy at the foundation is placing all philanthropic and civic activities under one roof, thus making it easier to initiate projects and work more effectively as a team. With this thrust came the appointment of Dr. Kenneth Hartrigan-Go as executive director. A medical graduate of the University of the Philippines and the University of NewCastle in the United Kingdom, Dr. Hartigan-Go leads in designing the service program of the foundation and overseeing the implementation of its various projects.

The projects that the Foundation has been undertaking are in line with what Dr. Hartigan-Go says is the 100-year-old Zuellig Company’s way of giving back to Filipinos what they deserve.

Among the projects the foundation has embarked on was the "Stop Measles" project in support of the Department of Health’s fight against the disease. The foundation was able to draw a total of P500,000 worth of measles vaccines from big pharmaceutical companies such as Aventis Pasteur, Merck Sharp and Dohme Phils. and GlaxoSmithKline.

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But more importantly, the foundation has addressed the problem of health policies crafted decades ago. By lending its resources and commissioning studies, it contributes to the shaping of international best practices, and the upgrading of outdated health information and statistics in the country.

For example, it sponsored a workshop on Anticipating and Managing Crisis Management and Communications Challenges. Attending the workshop were chief executive officers, corporate relations managers and key people from the health care sector who are tasked to face the media and the public during emergency situations.

It also held a Health Leadership and Management Program training series entitled "Managing Change and Becoming a Transformational Leader." The series consists of three modules which aim to equip public health sector managers with skills in promoting more effective health care service delivery, and to accelerate the process of instituting health sector reforms.

It sponsored a symposia on "The Role of the Filipino Physicians in Addressing Domestic Violence." The meeting tackled looking closely into the current crisis caused by lack of legislation and penal provisions against domestic violence.

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The foundation came out with a set of monographs documenting the highlights of the symposium series. I received copies of the monographs on the role of Filipino physicians in addressing domestic violence and anticipating and managing crisis. I did not, however, receive that one the State and Private Sector Response to Terrorist-Related National Crises, an important document on how to deal with terroristic activities.

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On the subject of health, newspaper columnists were sent a copy of a complaint of a medical intern against Fortune Medicare, Inc. a health insurance company. The complainant, Renée Joy P. Neri, is a medical intern at the University of the Philippines/Philippine General Hospital. Last March 21, while on duty at the emergency room of PGH, she felt severe pains in her stomach, coupled with fever. A laboratory test and other exams done at the PGH emergency room and Renee’s medical professor diagnosed her as having an acute appendicitis which needed immediate surgery. Renée’s professor, who happens to be a consultant with a Fortune Care-accredited hospital near PGH, the Manila Doctors Hospital, seeing the emergency nature of the case, issued an admission order and scheduled an operation later that day.

Dr. Arcilla even offered his professional service for free, together with that of the anesthesiologist. Renée’s father, Dr. Rene Neri, called up Fortune Care‚s main office, informing them of her case. Upon admission to the hospital, Renée told the admission section that Fortune Care would shoulder the other expenses such as medicines, room, and supplies, as stated in the provisions of the insurance contract between Renée and Fortune care, particularly with regard to emergency cases.

Prior to Renée’s discharge on March 23, a Fortune Care person, "a certain Sol," informed Renee "arrogantly that Fortune Care couldn’t shoulder the hospital bill". That came to the Neri family as "a big blow," since Renée had been An FC member since 1991. According to Renee, the FC emergency care benefits state the following: "Out-patient or in-patient services shall anytime be provided to the member when he is brought to the Emergency Room (ER) of the hospital for: a) an accidental injury; b) the sudden and unexpected onset of a serious illness of such nature that failure to obtain immediate care would place the patient’s life in jeopardy or cause serious impairment, or loss of bodily functions; or c) in cases of severe chest or abdominal pain requiring immediate care in the hospital ER. Emergency case connotes that treatment must be obtained within 24 hours from the time the accidental injury was sustained, or within 12 hours from the onset of symptoms for serious illness."

While it is true that the surgeon and anesthesiologist are not FC-accredited doctors, Manila Doctors Hospital is FC-accredited. Renée says that the two doctors offered their services free. All she wants is a reimbursement of the hospital bill amounting to P19,075.15. Is that too much for FC? If it refuses to recognize the emergency nature of Renée’s case, I’m afraid it will lose a lot of its clients.

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For the first time in Manila, 17 paintings from the Cuzco School of Style is on display (from April 15 to May 15) at the San Agustin Museum in Intramuros. The Embassy of Peru is sponsoring this exhibition of colonial paintings.

The Cuzco School is one of the most important schools of art in America. It was founded in the Peruvian City of Cuzco between the 17th and 18th centuries. The Embassy of Peru tells us that the school, which integrated an enormous number of craftsmen gathered from different shops, is recognized for the Baroque style of its paintings and sculptures, the chief purpose of which was to recreate biblical passages, religious scenes (such as miracles of apparition) that occurred in the American territory, and saints and martyrs associated with the process of evangelization of the colonies. Among the popular subjects of Cuzquena Art are the Virgin Mary alone, or with the Child, the "Cuzquena" Madonna, the arquebusier, archangels in splendid clothing, the Sacred Family, and the Archangel Michael, among others.

Diego Quispe Tito started the Cuzco School. He was born in Cuzco in 1611 and was active until 1681. He was an Indian and called himself "Inca".

If you want to watch the exhibition, call 527-4060, 526-6764, or 527-4061.

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My e-mail address: [email protected]