For the poor, waiting to get an operation at the Philippine Heart Center (PHC) is apparently deadlier than surgery itself, a hospital official said Monday.
About 40 percent of about 800 indigent patients die while waiting for surgery, while only 2 percent die from heart surgery, the center’s director, Dr. Ludgerio Torres, said during a weekly media forum at Sulo Hotel in Quezon City.
Torres said the Philippine Heart Center needs more funding from Congress so it could save more lives.
The Heart Center has an annual budget of P150 million and a single open-heart surgery costs around P300,000, he added. The hospital shoulders the operation expenses of poor patients, but because of the budget constraints, the center cannot operate on all those who need surgery but cannot afford it.
Some patients wait for more than a year, the doctor said, but he did not mention how long is the average waiting time.
To complicate matters, the hospital is treating more people these days. Patients requiring heart surgery today are younger, some between 18 and 24 years old, the doctor said, adding that unhealthy diet and sedentary lifestyles are to blame. Before, heart patients were typical 40 years and older.
Torres added that to save on expenses, the hospital is also sourcing additional funds from heart patients who are capable of paying for the procedure in full. The hospital also has some partnerships with private groups, including Rotary clubs that sponsor surgery for poor patients. Even with those things, Torres said the hospital needs more funding.
The Philippine Heart Center is the only government hospital capable of performing heart surgery—the reason why there is a long queue of indigents wanting to have surgery there, he explained.
To help ease the backlog, Torres said they are going round the Philippines convincing other government hospitals to also offer heart surgery so that indigents in their area would not need to go to Manila for the operation. So far, the center’s officials have approached hospitals in Batangas, Zambales, Iloilo and Davao provinces, as well as some in the Bicol region.
“We are willing to help other medical institution nationwide regarding heart surgery, which is as ordinary as [an] appendectomy,” he added.
–Jefferson Antiporda, Manila Times
September 18 –
International Equal Pay Day
“Increase wages now,
more than other cost items.
For widespread, practical equality!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
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October –
Monthly Observances:
Industry and Commerce Safety Month
National Statistics Month
Local Government Month
Consumer Welfare Month
Cooperative Month
National Quality and Productivity Improvement Month
National Health and Wellness Tourism Month
National Indigenous Peoples Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Elderly Filipino Week
Week 2: National Health Education Week
Local Government Week
National Mental Health Week
October 17-23:
National Week for Overcoming Extreme Poverty
October 18 – 24:
United Nations Week
Last Week:
Nurses’ Week
Consumers’ Protection Week
Week of the 4th Sunday:
Barrio Farmers’ Week
Daily Observances:
First Monday (Oct 4): Universal Children’s Day i
n the Philippines
Oct 5: National Teachers’ Day
Oct 10: Local Government Day
Third Thursday (Oct 14): Conflict Resolution Day
Oct 21: Tenants’ Emancipation day
Oct 24: United Nations Day
Oct 29: National Indigenous People’s Thanksgiving Day
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