One of the best hospitals in the world?

Roger Nuncio, one of my staff at “Isumbong Mo Kay Tulfo” office, complained of dizziness and headache two weeks ago.

His fellow employees took him to the Rizal Medical Center (RMC, formerly Rizal Provincial Hospital) in Pasig City for a thorough checkup.

Doctors at the RMC said there was nothing wrong with Roger, except that he was probably having holiday stress.

He would be all right after a day or two, doctors told me, and put him in a pay ward.

“A day or two” became five days, but Roger still complained of dizziness and splitting headache.

Doctors at the government-run hospital said they couldn’t find anything wrong with Roger and advised him to just take a rest at home.

On his way home to Imus, Cavite, Roger’s son told me over the phone that his father was vomiting.

This worried me no end and so I asked his son to take him to St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City.

At the emergency room of the private hospital, doctors found that Roger had a stroke and should immediately be placed under intensive care.

It took one hour after Roger was admitted at St. Luke’s for doctors to determine his condition.

Roger could have died if his condition was not detected an hour more.

Five days at a government hospital, which didn’t find anything wrong with Roger, compared to an hour after his admission at St. Luke’s, which saved his life.

Of course, the cost of Roger’s stay at St. Luke’s was at a price, but who cares, life cannot be quantified.

So, comparing a government hospital to a private and first class hospital is like comparing apples and oranges: There is no comparison.

St. Luke’s Hospital in Quezon City has been adjudged by an international medical group as one of the best hospitals in the world.

Roger and I will attest to that.

I have a beef with St. Luke’s-Quezon City, however.

My wife, Josie, was treated shabbily by a certain Dr. Buado at the medical ward of the hospital some months ago.

Josie was complaining about the poor ventilation in the private room where she was transferred upon Buado’s advice.

Buado probably had a relative or friend who wanted the room Josie was occupying, so he had her transferred to another room.

According to Josie, Buado confronted her and told her sarcastically, “Perhaps you want a suite?”

Josie’s blood pressure shot up because of Buado’s wry comment.

She complained to the hospital management about Buado’s behavior, but until now, several months later, she hasn’t received an apology from the hospital.

Excellent service and courteous staff should go hand in hand before a hospital can claim to be the best.

* * *

The streets are safer now and many people are able to sleep soundly at night knowing there is less likely chance their homes will be broken into by burglars.

This is the situation not only in Metro Manila, but also in many parts of the country.

Why? Because robbers and other hoodlums, as well as those who sold them drugs, are either in hiding or dead.

You see, most crimes are committed by persons who are “high” on crystal meth known by its street name “shabu.”

The claim by the Duterte administration that its war on drugs is “hugely successful” is not an exaggeration.