Doctors’ Group To DOH, PhilHealth: Act On The Protest Of Health Workers Of TPH

A group of doctors of internal medicine appealed to the Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) on Tuesday to swiftly act on the conflict between the Tarlac Provincial Hospital (TPH) administration and its protesting health workers.

In a health forum spearheaded by the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) at Annabel’s Restaurant on Tomas Morato Ave. in Quezon City, PCP president Dr. Mariano Lopez, along with other medical doctors, called on DOH Secretary Janette L. Garin to protect the interest of the health workers in the interest of the Tarlaqueños who need efficient and quality health care service delivery from the Tarlac Provincial Hospital, the only tertiary government hospital serving the province.

“A prolonged protest may threaten the delivery of services to patients as well as the training of doctors in the hospital. As one of the accredited training and research institutions of PCP, we are alarmed by the problem plaguing the hospital that remains unresolved since it erupted in May 2015,” said Lopez.

Lopez joined the appeal as he learned that the DOH and PhilHealth have not taken appropriate action on the appeal of medical and non-medical staff of the TPH who have not received their complete share of the PhilHealth reimbursements of the hospital.

During the forum, the health workers said that Tarlac Gov. Victor Yap and then TPH officer-in-charge Dr. Leonardo Mangahas Jr. reduced the share of hospital employees from the regular 30 percent of total PhilHealth reimbursements to only 2 percent.

The TPH employees also said that their fees have not been released since May 2015, depriving them of much-needed funds for their family’s food, education and other basic needs.

The resident doctors also claimed they continue to encounter harassment everyday when they are not allowed to leave the Emergency Room and are prevented from sleeping in their quarters.

They also said they were offered contracts with only one-month validity with a salary of only P15,000 and the renewal is subject to monthly evaluation.

The contracts also indicate that they waive their professional fees from PhilHealth reimbursements.

The doctors also said that before renewal of contracts, some doctors have to sign an affidavit they are on the side of the administration in the ongoing conflict regarding PhilHealth reimbursements.

“The PCP is not taking sides on the merits of the case filed against Mangahas. However, we feel that the medical personnel in TPH are being unjustly treated in this case and in the end, it is our patients in TPH who will suffer,” said Lopez.

In the same forum, PCP Board Member Maricar Limpin said that those who are taking care of the health welfare of the population should also be taken care of in the same way and not be forgotten in terms of protecting their welfare.

“In order to perform our duties, health workers like us should be in proper condition. We should not be sick, financially unequipped, or hungry. Doctors get sick, too, and we also need to live,” added Limpin.

“Secretary Garin, you should act on this. This has been a long-time problem. We are also calling on the PhilHealth. These people have been writing to you for a long time,” Limpin said.

PCP is the lead organization in the residency training program of internal medicine and approves the accreditation of hospitals conducting this training based on the required number of consultants in the Department of Medicine of the hospital, services rendered in the hospital, patient exposure, and others.

“The PCP, on its part, is deeply concerned about the future of the training program in internal medicine in TPH since the minimum requirement for accreditation is the appointment of a set number of fellows and residents which we believe, at this time, is less than ideal. We are afraid that the TPH might lose its accreditation if these requirements are compromised. Our thrust in promoting the residency training of future internists in a great number of hospitals in most regions has been integral to our mission and vision and serves as a source of hope for our undeserved countrymen,” Dr. Lopez explained. (PNA) SCS/LSJ