‘Passover or broke’

It was a case of “early to bed – too early to rise” as I found myself waking up at 20 minutes past midnight. Instinctively, I found myself checking my phone for the right time. Yes, it was 12:20. Then the bad habit set in, I checked Facebook and saw a very familiar face alongside three different bank accounts and an e- wallet account.

I put on my eyeglasses and confirmed that the image belonged to well-known sports columnist and broadcaster Bill Velasco. Suspecting the worst, I sat up to read the message that was posted by “Brian Yalung” that read:

“On behalf of Bill Velasco and his family, we would like to humbly request for your assistance to help cover his mounting medical expenses. He is currently in the ICU. He is getting the necessary treatment but could use an assist in any kind. The details of his accounts are on the graphic. Please continue to pray for bill.”

The following day, I reached out to a friend to verify the post and he in turn sent me another earlier post, this one from Bill Velasco’s partner thanking friends and asking for support for Bill Velasco as well as providing a medical update on Bill’s condition.

Like many of his friends and associates, I too am very concerned for Bill Velasco and his medical condition. The fact that friends have posted or reposted appeals for financial assistance on social media already tells us that someone is in double jeopardy – not only is he seriously ill, but the hospital expense is also bleeding him dry! It also reflects the sad and tragic fact that in the Philippines, the cost of medical attention is so high that even people who have jobs, who have some savings, can’t cover the cost of serious medical emergencies.

Even the most financially prudent people with savings and property end up in financial ruin because hospitals and doctors place a high price on our desperate desire to survive. God forbid that you or your loved one ends up with cancer, heart disease or some neurological damage because almost always your bank account gets cleaned out, your cars sold and, in many cases, your house or properties follow.

The cost for relief and survival is so high that the poor opt to go home and die with dignity instead of seeing the desperation and helplessness in the faces of their family. Better to die than cause loved ones so much humiliation. Even a businessman I knew said, “Take me home instead so I can still save my last million for my family.” The rest of us are just praying that God, in an ultimate act of mercy, will take us instantly with a “one time-big time” heart attack or aneurysm. Others pray that God would grant them a “Passover” like he did the Israelites in Egypt, instead of getting sick, dying and going broke.

I have for some time been advocating for a review or a thorough investigation of medical care and services in the Philippines. It is time that the government, the Senate and Congress seriously check on how the current system works and how to make medical care, emergency services, treatments, etc. transparent, predictable and affordable.

Medical services should not be a guessing game based on a hope and prayer for patients. Saving patients’ lives must be the priority, and not the social status of patients as the basis for billings and return on investments. Senate, Congress and the Executive Department must find out what the real situation is and determine if the high cost of medical care is fact based, arbitrary or artificial.

Where are the menu of services and prices? Is there a government set standard of prices for all hospitals, even for private hospitals? Who is competently regulating and monitoring hospitals? How can the BIR efficiently collect income tax revenues if charges and prices are extremely variable or arbitrary, depending on the skin color of the patient or if the patient is a public personality.

Without a doubt, many patients from the lower and middle classes have no choice in terms of hospitals. There are not enough public hospitals, most public hospitals hardly have rooms to accommodate patients on a daily basis. Why did legislators cut the funding for new investments for equipment and facilities of the DOH? Are legislators willfully stunting the growth of public health care?

Is it cost-cutting or a lobby of private hospitals to stem the ability of DOH to provide alternative and affordable medical services? Why do legislators have access and control via endorsement of money spent for patient care in public hospitals? Why not centralize all the money with PCSO, legislators, LGUs and give it to the DOH and let them use it as required? Why surrender the treatment and hospitalization for the top five killers of Filipinos to the private sector by not funding public hospitals?

By determining the facts and the truth, government would be better informed and guided in finding out what solutions can be implemented so that the government is part of the solution and not a mere bystander collecting taxes and adding to the burden and losses of patients’ families and dying Filipinos.

Given the generosity of many Filipinos, I have no doubt that people will rally to help Bill Velasco through this difficult time. I’m confident that leaders and team owners of various sporting groups will not stand idly by as Bill faces a life-threatening medical condition. And for the rest of those who would, please pray for Bill. In the meantime, let us also remind political leaders that this medical and financial disaster is in their hands.

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