Bacolod Councilor Em Legaspi-Ang yesterday said she is against the bill that would lead to the corporation of government-owned hospitals since health care is a vital function of government.

House Bill 6069, authored by Bacolod Rep. Anthony Golez and (Neg. Occ. 3rd District) Rep. Alfredo Marañon III, intends to convert public hospitals into government-owned and controlled corporations to purposely turn them into independent money-making institutions responsible for generating their own funding.

 Ang, a registered nurse, said government should provide these health services to those who cannot afford to go to private hospitals. If government-owned hospitals are corporatized, the poor people will have nowhere to go, she said.

When you speak of corporations, they are always profit-oriented, so where will the poor people go for their health care needs? She asked. Besides, government should have a facility for its people especially those who cannot afford health care, she said.

“I am against it, and I hope they will reconsider,  because I believe that if you give government-owned hospitals to private corporations, there will be no more health facility for our poor people,” Ang said.

ZAMBOANGA SP, TOO

Meanwhile, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Zamboanga   approved Resolution No. 486 on June 13, 2012 expressing opposition to House Bill No. 6069, entitled “An act converting government hospitals into national government hospital Corporations providing funds, therefore, and for other purpose”, which is the privatization of government hospitals.

A copy of the resolution was furnished the SP of Bacolod City and all other SPs,  Sangguniang Bayan and Sangguniang Panlalawigan, the Department of Health and all government hospitals.

The resolution was proposed by  Zamboanga Councilor Lilia Nuño during a privilege speech last month.

In her privilege speech, Nuño, chairman of the Committee on Health and Sanitation, said she rose on a personal and collective privilege because of the comment  made by Senator Franklin Drilon, a supporter of H.B. 6069,  which states: “The provision of basic services remains one of the essential functions of the government.” 

Nuño said this means that indeed, basic health services must be made accessible and medical costs should not be an additional burden to the poor.

“APPROVED HASTILY”

She said the Bill drew sharp public criticisms when it was approved hastily by the House of Congress on May 16, 2012 after only one hearing, for lack of proper consultations with the stakeholders and affected sectors.

 Its implementation would eventually see government subsidiaries for all tertiary hospital gradually withdrawn until completely eliminated  by 2020, she said.

Nuño said the proposed reforms in health care  will impact greatly on the overall and general social, economic and political circumstances and processes and on the citizens, particularly the marginalized sector of the society.

 She added that it is perceived  to be a government scheme to rescind its responsibility to appropriately respond to the growing need to provide  funds to modernize and upgrade government health facilities