President Benigno Aquino III on Sunday urged 263 new doctors from the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) to choose working in the country and serve their fellow Filipinos instead of working abroad to earn bigger salaries.
The President, in addressing the UP College of Medicine 102nd Commencement Exercises and PGH Internship Closing Ceremony at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, called on the new graduates not to forget patients from the indigent sector especially those in isolated parts of the country who also need medical care.
“Hindi ko naman sinasabing magpakamartir kayo. Sa laki ng isinakripisyo ninyo, dapat lang naman talagang matamasa ninyo ang mas maginhawang buhay," Aquino said.
“Ang hiling ko lang naman, kapag kumikita na kayo ng malaki, at pumipili sa kung saang subdibisyon magpapatayo ng bahay o kaya ay ospital, o kung anong kulay ng bibilhin ninyong kotse, makapaglaan pa rin sana kayo ng oras at atensyon para maglingkod sa mga liblib na rural health clinics, o kaya ay magbigay ng libreng medical check-up sa mga mahihirap na munisipalidad," he said.
“At siyempre, huwag rin sana kayong mag-amnesia sa pagbabayad ng tamang buwis," he added, eliciting laughter from the new doctors.
“Samahan ninyo kaming tapusin ang siklo ng pagtitiis. Huwag na nating hayaang dumami pa ang bilang ng mga kabataang nangangarap maging doktor, pero pagtanda ay mabibigo lang at mauuwing nagwawalis sa mga pasilyo ng ospital na pinapasukan ninyo. Ngayon pa lang, ayusin na sana natin ito. Hawak natin ang katuparan ng pangarap ng mga susunod na Pilipino," he said.
Philhealth to shoulder 70% of hospital bills
Aquino said that prudent spending of government revenues has resulted in more funds that were now being used for programs that benefit poor students who are unsure of access to education and the underprivileged sector who will now receive better health care.
The President said due to the big savings, the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (Philhealth) would now shoulder up to 70 percent of the hospital bills of its members, which is doubled than the current 34 percent.
He said that P3.5 billion had been allocated for Philhealth premiums, adding that a new case payment mechanism will be adopted by the Philhealth to ensure transparency and timely disbursement of benefits.
“Anumang paglilingkod ang hinihingi ko sa inyo ngayon, ay tinatapatan din namin ng tapat at makabuluhang serbisyo. Kapag sinabi naming good news, hindi ito mga madaliang lunas, o pangheadline lang sa mga diyaryo bukas. Ang mabuting balita namin ay pangmatagalan, at sinisiguro naming mararamdaman at aabot sa mga kababayan nating nangangailangan," he added.
The President said that more good news for the new doctors and the general public is the allocation of P7.1 billion for the government’s Health Facility Enhancement program – with P5.7 billion going to barangay health stations in rural areas, and P1.4 billion going to hospitals retained by the Department of Health. — MRT/KBK
