Last Monday, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said that the budget for the Medical Assistance to Indigent Patients (MAIP) program was raised by 78 percent from P32.6 billion in 2023 to ₱58 billion in 2024.
How much of this P58 billion is allocated per province, especially for Catanduanes, remains to be seen.
It would be very informative to the public if they know the amount disbursed for such assistance last year, for example, and for what kinds of medicines, services and medical products.
Under the revised guidelines on the implementation of the program issued in December 2020, the MAIP shall cover essential and life-saving medicines, services and other medical products as prescribed by a licensed physician or health professional, including all implants, medical devices and supplies as well as all hospital bills including professional fees, provided that the expenses for the professional fees shall not exceed 50% of the approved amount of medical assistance.
It is with regards to the payment of professional fees to consulting doctors as well as the medical implants they procure from Manila suppliers that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan called officials of the Eastern Bicol Medical Center to a meeting last week to explore options on how to address the longstanding issue.
There have been reports that some patients who needed surgical implants for bone fractures faced difficulties in paying for the private surgeon’s fees and the expensive devices, with one’s hospitalization allegedly lasting for several months.
A check of a private hospital’s request for quotation showed that stainless titanium implants ranged from P3,000.00 to as much as P235,000.00.
It is claimed that local surgeons’ professional fee is equivalent to the cost of the implants. Thus, if the cost of the implant ordered by the doctor cost P200,000.00, his professional fee would also be P200,000.00, for a total of P400,000.00.
In most cases, it is said, the patient is unable to pay a large portion of the bill even if assistance from PhilHealth, the DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) Program, and the DOH’s MAIP is considered.
It is at this time that the patient’s family runs to the mayor, provincial board member, vice governor and governor, with the solicited amount rarely coming up to what is needed.
The Tribune sought to secure data on how many patients provided with medical assistance by the provincial government were cases that involved bone fracture but the information was not available.
But a check of the medical records would most likely show that the injuries of each of those who required surgical implants were caused by vehicular accidents.
In a recent report, the Catanduanes police said that the number of incidents of reckless imprudence rose by 31 percent last year to 351 cases.
The number of victims who sustained physical injuries also grew to 178 from the previous 150, the police added.
Even assuming that only half of the 178, say about 90 of them required surgery and stainless titanium implants costing at least P50,000.00, the cost of the implants plus the doctor’s professional fee would add up to a staggering P4.5 million.
And this does not include the cost of hospitalization and loss of livelihood opportunities not only for the patient but for the members of family attending to him or her.
This shows that the issue of the surgical implants and professional fees is not a problem of the EBMC or the provincial government alone but also the other local government units, the police and the ordinary motorist who defy traffic rules at risk to themselves and the helpless public.
Just as the provincial hospital and the Capitol try to address the issue, their efforts must be complemented by the other stakeholders through a campaign to reduce road accidents.