With privatization, will costs in Vicente Sotto hospital go up?

Some patients in Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City expressed opposition to plans to privatize the state-run hospital.

Since its establishment in 1911, VSMMC has offered government-subsidized medical services for the poor.

Regional Director Dr. Asuncion Anden of the Department of Health (DOH) said she supports the plan to convert the VSMMC and 25 other DOH-run hospitals across the country into government-owned and -controlled corporations.

“If we shift from the current status to corporate, I don’t see many cahnges in terms of service for the people. In fact, I think it will improve,” Anden told Cebu Daily News.

However, she said the proposed law needs further study and consultation.

Lazaro Jodilla of Consolacion town, whose relative is being treated in the DOH-run hospital, said he fears that the poor would have to pay more for medical services if the hospital is privatized.

“Imbis nangita tag barato kay maayo nang gobyerno aron makatabang ug unsay atong kalisud,” he said. (We are looking for affordability in government hospital to ease our financial burden.)

The tertiary hospital in Cebu CIty is the main referral hospital in the Central Visayas region.

Some patients seeking treatment in the VSMMC come from other Visayan provinces and even Mindanao.

Paz Pintac, barangay captain in Mutia, Zamboanga del Norte, travelled all the way to VSMMC for surgery.

“For me, privatization is not favorable since the cost of services will increase. VSMMC is a big help to patients since professional fees of doctors are subsidized,” she said in Cebuano

House Bill No. 6099, principally authored by Bacolod City Rep. Anthony Golez and Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Maranon III, will allow the 26 government hospitals to contract loans and grants and seal joint venture agreements to expand or build private rooms for paying patients. Correspondent Jessa Chrisna Marie J. Agua