by Klaus Döring
I am an expatriat living in the Philippines for the past eleven years. I had been visiting the Philippines since 1976, and since 1982 on a regular basis. I always remember the phrase: “Take good care of yourself!”. Sure, I did. I always did take good care of myself — also while staying in many countries around the world.
Although one takes good care, anything can happen: an accident, an illness. Also YOU may be at risk.
Did you experience any chest pains or heaviness? Have you had a weakness or numbness on one side of your body which resolves completely at the end of the day. Have you felt pain in your legs when walking a certain distance? I experienced it — and two (mild) strokes. Nearly 26 million people worldwide die every year of diseases associated with “atherothrombosis”.
Now, why I am so concerned about this topic? Sure, everybody can get sick or ill. Filipinos and we expats living here. Fact is, the Philippine health infrastructure is deadly. I really hold my breath reading a lot of news while researching for this post. No, not good news! Really bad news!
Philippine Star columnist Boo Chanco has been talking to a number of doctors and got always the same message: “If you should have a heart attack or stroke, pray that neither happens outside of Metro Manila nor Metro Cebu!” Boom – bang! How about all the other places in the Philippines? Mindanao, especially Davao City – has not breathe a word!
It means to say: Proper emergency care is not available outside Manila and Cebu. Which hospitals, I am referring to Mindanao, especially Davao City — can provide proper emergency care and treatment for these two medical emergencies?
During the last days I visited some really lonely private beaches of good friends in Davao Oriental and on Samal Island. Of course, you might find generic hospitals also there as we know them in the whole Philippines. But are they useful for heart attacks and strokes?
Let’s mention again basic tourism programs, retirement programs or the development of luxury second homes away from the metro areas, as Boo Chanco stressed. I am pretty sure we can’t wait for the government again to provide us. The private sector developers indeed will have to include adequate medical facilities in their plans.
One more thing: PhilHealth is going bankrupt? No it’s not, said Malacanang a couple of days ago. I also pay my minimum monthly share as an expat. I have been hospitalized already once in Davao, and was lucky about the almost 20% refund from PhilHealth. I hope and pray that PhilHealth senior vice president Melinda Mercado was right when she said, “There is no truth to reports that PhilHealth could face bankruptcy by 2016 because of the government’s supposed failure to pay the premiums for its employees amounting to 19.2 billion pesos since 2001!”
So, let’s take good care of ourselves… .
By the way, the “Generics Pharmacy” (Mabisa na, Matipid pa!!!) has been extended to 410 stores nationwide. “Our commitment to the health and wellness of the Filipino people extends beyond the aggressive promotion of affordable and accessible generic medicines”.
Log on to www.thegenericspharmacy.com and find out more. I can only say: Kudos!
And sure, also expats, like you and me can avail of it… .
Questions, suggestions or comments? Feel free to email me at Klausdoringphil@gmail.com or visit www.Liveinthephilippines.com/Klaus.
