corporatization of government hospitals kills women's access to health – GWP Reps. Ilagan and De Jesus

Gabriela Representatives Luz Ilagan and Emmi de Jesus joined the regional delegates of GWP’s 5th National Congress in WOMEN WALK FOR ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, proceeding to Lung Center, National Kidney Transplant Institute, and Philippine Heart Center on May 27, 2012. The women lambasted the railroading of the passage of HB 6069 converting 26 government hospitals into government corporations. They said that through this bill, the government abandons its responsibility of providing for people’s health and allowing local and foreign businesses to profit from people’s health.

“The conversion will be very detrimental to marginalized women and children because they are the majority of patients in government hospitals,” said GWP Rep. Ilagan.

Ilagan further noted that the World Health Organization stated that a government must set aside at least 5% of its GNP for health. But of the P3 trillion GNP of the Philippines for the 3rd quarter of 2011, the Aquino government allocated only P42.69B for health services which is equivalent to P1.17 for each Filipino per day.

“The government has totally abandoned its responsibility to deliver accessible health care services by slashing the health budget and pushing for privatization of government hospitals through the PPP. It refuses to see that the cost of health services will increase and thereby displace charity patients. Where will poor Filipinos go if they can no longer afford government hospitals? Will they just stay home and await their death because they cannot afford hospital care?” added GWP Rep. de Jesus.

She further stated that as women and their families continue to be plagued by joblessness, low wages, and landlessness amid the incessant increase in the price of basic goods and services, the grim condition of women and their families is further aggravated by inaccessible health care services. And because of the decreasing family income, the budget for health becomes a family’s least priority to give way to food and other services.

“Corporatization blocks women’s access to health services. It is just right that woman gather together and convey united stance to demand for the government’s duty to deliver accessible basic health services especially to the marginalized women and her family,” ended Ilagan.

The WOMEN WALK FOR ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE is a build-up activity of a national health campaign which will be formally launched during the GWP 5th National Convention in Abelardo Hall, UP Diliman on May 28, 2012, on the occasion of International Day of Action for Women’s Health.