Lawmaker clarifies stand on government hospitals

BACOLOD City lone district Representative Anthony Golez Jr. said on Tuesday that he has no intention to move for the privatization of government hospitals.

"I am 1000 percent against the privatization of existing government hospitals. The bill I filed, House Bill 6069, seeks to make government hospitals as government-owned and controlled corporations and not to privatize the same. If there are other camps moving to privatize said hospitals, I will be the first one to vehemently oppose it," Golez said.

Golez added that all he wants is better and wider health services for all Filipinos, especially the poor.

Last May 16, the Committee on Health discussed and approved House Bill 6069, where Negros Occidental 6 Representative Alfredo Marañon III is also a co-author of said bill.

"A simple reading of the bill I filed would readily show that it is for upgrading the medical services rendered to the underprivileged. Under the bill, the 'corporatized' hospitals will be empowered to become more responsive to the needs of the people in their area," Golez said.

"The corporatization of the 26 government hospitals mentioned in House Bill 6069 will cut the long processes in getting projects and services for the poor because the said hospitals will be enabled to act on their own. House Bill 6069 will also help in augmenting the salaries of our underpaid and overworked health workers. Everything I had in mind, as a doctor and as a manager, in filing House Bill 6069 is to improve the medical services to the poor," Golez said.

Health Secretary Enrique Ona supports the bill as part of the universal health care program of President Benigno Aquino III’s administration. The corporatization of government hospitals is seen to be complementary to the amendments in the PhilHealth law, which seeks to give health insurance to all Filipinos.

Meanwhile, Senator Franklin Drilon also filed a bill similar to House Bill 6069 in the Senate.

Golez also invited Drilon, Ona, Bayan Muna Representative Teddy Casiño, Representative Raymond Palatino, Gabriela representatives and Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. for a discussion of his proposed bill on August 2.

"All the parties airing their concerns relating to House Bill No. 6069 have one thing in common and that is the desire to bring fast, reliable and free medical services for the poor, which is also my desire in filing said bill. I hope the discussion would bring a unitary solution on the problem of how can we improve the medical services for the poor," Golez ended. (CNC)