In recent weeks, there have been two big news stories in the Philippines related to the medical field. Both of these are major stories, although for different reasons.
The first case, which has been public for a couple of weeks now involves a patient who had surgery at a Government operated hospital in Cebu, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center. The incident happened back in January 2008, and involved a Filipino man who got into an embarrassing situation. After a night of drinking, the fellow got into a sexual encounter with another man. The whole thing went bad, and the man ended up with an aerosol can somewhere where it should not have been. The only way to retrieve the aerosol can, it turned out, was by having surgery for removal. During the surgery, somebody in the operating room shot video of the scene, and the doctors and nursing staff were all laughing and carrying on regarding the situation that the man was in. When the can was retrieved, one of the doctors even said that the “baby had been delivered,” and broke out into a burst of laughter. This video (over 3 minutes) was posted to YouTube, and made worldwide headlines.
To me, this behavior that the doctors and nurses displayed in the Operating Room was really a case of a breach of confidence with the patient! It was also childish and immature behavior. I believe that it borders on malpractice, although the man recovered from the surgery successfully.
Currently, the medical staff is under investigation, and they stand to lose their medical licenses. I feel that it would be appropriate for such a punishment, given their actions.
Do you remember last year when there was a huge uproar due to an episode of Desperate Housewives when Terri Hatcher made comment indicating that she didn’t want a doctor from the Philippines? It caused a huge stir in the Philippines. While I think that this YouTube incident is an isolated incident, I can also imagine that if this is a common practice among doctors in the Philippines (I don’t think it is, though), many people worldwide would prefer to avoid medical professionals from here. Was Terri Hatcher right? What do you think?
In the second big medical story here in the Philippines, there has been a big investigation into medicals billings here in the Philippines, and evidence has surfaced that a number of Philippine clinics have been involved in defrauding the United States Government of hundreds of millions of dollars! Yes, you read that right, HUNDREDS of MILLIONS of US Dollars! How?
Well, you see, United States Veterans who have Tri-Care medical coverage can be treated in many accredited medical facilities in the Philippines, and Tri-Care is billed for the services. It turns out that some of these facilities have been billing the US Government at rates up to 2,000% above the correct rates! It has been said on the local news that even some American Vets who were treated were given kick-backs to assist with the fraud.
One Medical Facility in the Philippines has already been convicted, and they have been ordered by US courts to divest all of their assets within 3 months, and to give the money to the US Government as a repayment of the fraud that they committed. All reports are that the Philippine Government stands ready to assist the US Government in whatever way is necessary to recover the lost money. The Philippine Justice Secretary last week even said that he is ready to extradite any Filipinos that the US Justice Department requests for trial.
Quite interesting times for the Philippine Medical profession. Very interesting!
The Tricare case may also be the deathkneel for the chances that Medicare would be allowed in the RP. There has been a movement by the Americans Living Overseas Association to get Congress to approve Medicare for all Americans living in other countries on the ground that the retirees had paid for medicare through their work lives and should not be denied Medicare no matter where they lived. (just like social security). This brings up another question to me , do Americans who live in the Philippines and are 65 and above continue to pay their premiums even though they can’t use it ?Just curious. Thanks!
Hi Richard Wilson – Thanks for stopping by and leaving your comment. What you say is something that I had in mind. The Tri-Care situation will, I am sure, be used as a fraud warning if any other things (like Medicare) are considered for implementation in the Philippines. Even private sector things that are totally unrelated to health-care could suffer. Just as an example, just in the last 6 months or so, Paypal has become available to people who live in the Philippines. In the past, Paypal did not do business here due to the fraud problems. With cases like this tri-care fiasco, other private sector companies can point to the issue as a reason to avoid doing business here. It’s a bad situation!
Sorry, I don’t know your answer to the question about whether seniors here must pay for Medicare premiums. Maybe somebody else will step in with an answer.
Hi Bob, I have nothing to add about the can in the out going slot. That is between the man and the staff. However the Tri-Care situation angers me. Imagine the problems caused for expat vets if all of a sudden Tri-Care is not available to the many caused by the actions of a few. However to suggest that this type of fraud is confined only to the Philippines is not fair either. I continually read about American hospitals and clinics over charging the Medicare/Medicaid programs for a lot more than what happened in the Philippines with Tri-Care. I read about government employees stealing billions from the government credit card program over the past decade. I would imagine with a little effort I could go on and on with examples of corruption on all sides of the Pacific. We as Americans need to hold our government agencies and those that run them accountable to the tax payer-anything less than that is unacceptable in my opinion. Interesting article in todays Wall Street Journal about the Philippines and rice. It fits nicely with your article of “Something is not right”. If you can’t find it online let me know and I will write the emphasis of the article. In short the policies of the government and the way they pay for imported rice is the cause of the huge increases in price. Take care and tell Feyma Marlou is again interested in Samal Island. Ron
I had cause recently to visit a doctor here in Davao for a very minor complaint, I was very impressed. He took a lot of time, was up to speed with the latest developments in his field, and explained things in depth. I left his office feeling I had been much better treated here than I would have been in the UK. Unlike Terri Hatcher I have no problems with treatment by doctors from the Philippines.
You can see the video on Utube !!! [ Joke Lang !!! 🙂 ]
Clearly the perfume container incident was unprofessional and wrong, and obviously so is the corruption involving the US veterans Tri-Care.
Scott
Hi Scott – I do totally agree with you. As I have said many times, I have been very happy with the medical care that I have received in the Philippines! In my experience you get quality care at a reasonable price here. Nothing to complain about there!
Hi macky – I agree that this whole policy is going to make the Philippines look bad, and I feel that is unfortunate. As I pointed out, if a Filipino goes abroad and becomes naturalized in the country he is living in, then comes back to retire here, he is in fact a foreigner. I have no doubt, though, that if he needs a transplant he will get one. Why? Because he’s a Filipino (citizen or not). I also feel certain that if I needed a transplant 20 years from now, having lived legally in the country for nearly 30 years, I would not be eligible. It just doesn’t make sense, and has too many loopholes.
I feel that the policy, as it is further thought out, will go away. We’ll have to see, though.
that would be me. a recent US citizen (just last feb). in basic definition, i should be barred too, but i am very sure that i won’t be. almost a racial issue, huh?
i’d even throw this out there. how about my own mother who is a US citizen from an irish-american father. does that qualify her for half an organ?
in fact, with both of us holding US passports & let’s say you continue living in davao for another 12 years (as i easily see you doing) – that’s a total of 22 years, eclipsing my time living there before i moved to the US (21 years). you raise a very filipino family & continue your local ties in the city while mine fade.
doesn’t that make you more qualified for an organ transplant if you need it? by this rule. NO. but im pretty sure i can qualify. that DOH rule is pure carabao crap.
Bob
Sorry i do not have too much sympathy with the aerosol guy, he should be glad there were doctors on hand to rescue him from his predicament, he must have been embarrased by his situation, although appearing on you tube would be over the top in embarassment exposure
let me see if you could imagine being in his predicament i guess you would settle for being treated in return for ridicule, he pretty much got what he deserved, sorry for this harsh view
as for the fraud, just not acceptable and like you say , the govt and authorities will co-operate in bringing people to justice, good.
Hi rick b – For me, when you go to a doctor, there is an expectation of privacy of your medical records and procedures. For a member of the medical team to film your private surgery and then post it on YouTube is just not right, in my opinion. If this were to be allowed, we could all see ourselves on the internet anytime we had to go to the doctor. It's just my opinion, and I understand that our opinions are different on this one, and that's OK too.
Hi Ron LaFleur – Yeah, for me the Tri-Care story is the bigger of the two, although the other story has gotten more press play here.
I agree with you that corruption against the Government is seen in lots of different venues, and everywhere in the world, really. I have to think that the reason why the Philippine Government has been so strident about going after these thieves is because they want to keep tri-care operating in the Philippines.
i was incensed when i read about that cebu case 2-3 weeks ago. a clear breach of patient/doctor privacy. there shouldn't be any judgement on how a patient needed medical help. the doctor's job is to heal not to judge a person's private life.
also, health was compromised when people not involved with the operation where allowed in the operating room, a supposed controlled sterilized environment. so far, i am glad.
no brainer. malpractice. but you should read about the doc's defense lawyer's (brother-in-law) argument. pretty funny, absurd & ridiculous rolled into one.
btw, when i read your headline, i thought you were going to mention the ongoing discussions of a ban on liver transplant surgery on foreigners.
i read about it yesterday on the inquirer. from what i gathered, it was about controlling human organ trafficking that targets the poor. i was curious what your thoughts are about this since there are many expats are of advanced age & may need this type of treatment.
on the vet/defraud case. my reaction is that im just beaten down by all the money scams done by my fellow pinoys. just too much. politics, medical etc. i no longer am surprised by news like these. almost to the point of being numb by it.
Hi macky – Regarding the transplant issue, it applies to all organ transplants, not only livers. The news article says it is Liver Transplants, but if you dig further, you find that it covers all organs.
I am against people being able to purchase organs. That applies to anybody of any race or nationality. If a Filipino buys a kidney from a poor Filipino, that is just as bad as if a foreigner did it.
Frankly, I think that this new policy or law (?) is a crock. I mean, hey, I live here. I am a foreigner, though, right? Let's say I need a transplant (or one of my kids). Will I just have to die, because as a foreigner am not allowed to have a transplant here? What about Filipinos who have been naturalized in other countries? If a Filipino goes to the USA and becomes a citizen, then moves back to the Philippines is he/she banned from getting a transplant?
Here's my question on this… if the US Government came out and said that all immigrants were hereby banned from having an organ transplant, what would be the reaction? The first time that Filipino in the States was allowed to die because of the color of their skin, there would be an uproar in the Philippines (and rightly so!). But, if you are a foreigner in the Philippines… too bad.
That makes no sense. 👿
Good column, Bob. As some know I also wrote about the TRICARE situstaion a few days ago (BTW, stupid as it looks, TRICARE) is the official way the DoD who runs the program spells it). I am sure there are afew of my fellow military retirees who profited from the scam. Sad. Even more sad is that there were many others who were complicit in the scam mainly due to laziness. They either failed to learn the rules … mainly that the retiree must pay a minimum deductible each year and submit and account for his/her _own_ charges, getting reimbursed after the minimums are met. This is annoying for some, but TRICARE is an important benefit and we have to follow the rules, or lose it. See http://www.tricare.mil/mybenefit/
Anyone who is currently in some scheme or venture that does things like accept an annual fee and submits charges in your name iis almost certainly illegal. You ana _only_ use TRICARE Standard here in the Philippines and to use TRICARE Standard you have to do a certain, minimal amount of work yourslef and be responsible for what is submitted. Please. help the rest of your fellow vets _and_ the rest of the US population who might get the chnace to use Medicare overseas in the future by making sure your actions are 'squeaky clean'.
As far as Medicare after 65 … it comes in two flavors. Part A is free to all qualified US citizens. You can not avail of it overseas, but it6 comes free. Part B is optional for Part A recipients. If qualified and if desired it costs $96.40 a month in 2008 and is steadily rising. If you are a military retiree and wish to use TRICARE for Life after age 65, you must opt for and pay for Part B … yes, event though you can not use it.
If you are not a military retiree you do not have to opt for Part B. If you do not opt for it and later want it, you can apply, but you will pay extra for being a 'late joiner'. There is a _lot_ more to this, I recommend http://www.ssa.gov they have a number of calculators and guides that will help explain it.
Hi Dave Starr – Thanks for sharing some additional info on the Tricare thing, and also the Medicare. It is much appreciated.
I must have missed your article on the Tricare on your site, I'll have to go take a look.
For a moment I really hoped they were not Filipinos. That it was just a joke. I don't know if the media has been alerted over this. I was disgusted over the behavior of those health care providers. Such delicate matter was handled with wanton lack of professional decorum. It makes the issue of privacy LIGHT YEARS AWAY in the Philippines. It's like if you ask that attending physician, or that nurse what do they know about privacy, they would go " huh…ano yun".
If a cadaver has to be treated with dignity moreso with a patient who could be half-conscious to experience those indignities. I hope this horrible story be sensationalized so that the govt in it attempt to grandstanding may bring out in the open the issue of privacy rights for patients. True, most Filipinos have no rights to become patients, what with the high cost of hospital bills, medicine so what's the point really of talking privacy rights of patients? As for those grifters, buti nga sa kanila. But I am sorry for those Vets who may have been manipulated to do this crime. Just when they were so close in finally getting what's due to them–here comes this allegation that some of them may have been involved.
Hi Roy – Welcome back! Glad to have your comment.
I can assure you, the media knows all about that YouTube case, because it has been at the top of the news already for a couple of weeks here in the Philippines! A lot of people are incensed (like you!) about the handling of the case too. I think that some actions will be taken against the doctors and entire medical team.
Regarding the tricare scam, I was thinking the same thing as you. With the benefits bill on it's way toward (hopefully) passage to give benefits to the Filipino WW2 Vets, it would be a shame for this case to mark them as a bunch of "fraudsters" (which they are not) and have their benefits pulled! I hope that won't happen.
Bob,
Re ur question, you used diff sets of facts. One is a Fil immigrant in the states and the other one is a "foreigner" in the Phil. Since both are not similarly situated, both must be dealt differently. A Fil immigrant is not the same as a "foreigner" in the Phil. Although a Fil immigrant maybe treated as foreigner by the americans, he is still not a foreigner by legal definition. He is an immigrant, one who was granted permanent residency by the US govt. A foreigner in the Phil gets to the Phil by….years of waiting for the priority date to become current? I don't think so.
But I agree with you. Everybody should have access to whatever is availbale to get better regardless of one's status.
Hi Roy – Sorry, I don't believe I used a different set of facts.
I am an immigrant to the Philippines. I live here, and have for over 8 years. I cannot have a transplant here under the current new rules. I can't have the transplant because even though I am a legal immigrant here with all my papers in order to live here for as long as I want, I am not eligible for the transplant because of the color of my skin.
You are a Filipino immigrant in the States (I believe, right?). You live there and have for some time. You can have any type of operation in the States the same as any other person can.
Tell me where my logic is wrong? As far as I can tell, we have the exact same immigrant status, just in different countries.
regarding the transplants. i completely agree with you. reading the story, i sort of thought of you & this site because it is expat related. that, and also because you had a serious medical issue years ago.
to me, banning foreigners from transplants violates their basic human rights. that's just common sense, really. what is their basis for foreigner anyway? i bet many well-connected taipans in the country bypass this rule.
it also exposes the govt of having failed at curbing organ trafficking. this seems like an easy way out from a complex socio-economic problem.
the philippines looks amazingly backward with this policy. something akin to a closed or authoritarian society like a burma or a late 70's cambodia.
Hi macky – Ha ha.. in my mind, everything that we are saying makes perfect sense. There is only one problem, though.. I don't think either of us is going to be the catalyst to make a change!
Let's just hope that neither of us ever need that transplant!
Here's to your health! 😆
you're wrong, bob! i will make changes.
that's it, i'm flying back there & running for office. i have the expat vote on my side… um, wait. scratch that idea.
then again, cheers to our health 😀
🙂 Hey Bob, no quarrel now–the facts are identical. In ur orig question though, U wrote this and I quote:
Here’s my question on this… if the US Government came out and said that all immigrants were hereby banned from having an organ transplant, what would be the reaction? The first time that Filipino in the States was allowed to die because of the color of their skin, there would be an uproar in the Philippines (and rightly so!). But, if you are a foreigner in the Philippines… too bad.
There's the rub. Immigrant and Foreigner. As example, a Fil is an immigrant in the states and as a corollary example, you are a foreigner in the Phil. But then you are not, as you clearly pointed out in your reply to me. But in ur orig question, U used the word "foreigner". I just go by what you wrote. But now that you made it clear, yes you are right, both sets of facts demand same treatment.
Still on that Hosp Scandal, it seems to me that it happened outside of Luzon. At least, Manilenos can insulate themselves from those unethical healthcare providers. They deserve the vilest denunciation for their breed. I hope one of them reads this. What were they thinking?
I have not read the DOH policy restricting "foreigners" fr getting organ transplants fr Fil donors. But it seems to me that if the wording of the law used the word "foreigners" as those who are not allowed to be donees of body parts, then surely it must have referred to "foreigners" alone and not to immigrants. Can foreigners here in the states get new kidneys?
Hi Roy – I don't have any kind of official or legal interpretation of the ruling. What I do know is that the papers say that foreigners cannot have a transplant. I also know that when I go to the Bureau of Immigration, or have contact with any kind of official agency, or meet people on the street, I am always called a "foreigner." Thus, my only interpretation that I can come to is that I would not be able to have a transplant of any kind here in the Philippines.
What do you think, my friend? ❓
OIC, you use the word "foreigner" in the same way most Filipinos use it. Say for example you were in the market looking for pomelo or solo papaya and the vendors were excited to see you because you are the "foreigner" who loves to buy those fruits.
What should control though is how the Bureau of Immig or any agencies of the govt look at you once you declare to them that you are not a foreigner but an immigrant. If they ask you what animal is that be patient to explain to them.
Needless to say Bob, the Phil is so not like the US at least in the number of people migrating to the country. Am I right to say that most americans are aware that people who may not look like them are not necessarily "foreigners". It sounds silly now because I have never one american use that word! Ha ha ha… 😆 😎
You can expect that even govt employees there are clueless when it comes to transacting business to someone who looks like a "foreigner".
I certainly hope that everything (transplant) is just hypothetical. Just enjoy the perks of being a "foreigner" and not what you might miss bec it's not a good idea to have it anyway! 😀
Hi Roy – Yeah, I just hope that I never need to find out if I can get a transplant or not! 😆
Hi Bob,
You're right about the desperate housewives controversy, although it was a stupid comment and not funny in the first place, the countless individuals making complaints and demanding public apologies at the time don't seem to be doing so now!
Regards
Phil
Bob, the article I was referencing was: http://philfaqs.com/phils-editorals/sad-headlines…
I often think I should write even mor eon these issues but there are many other US retirees who do a better job than I, and my focus here is not beneifts … I don't devote my life to them.
But when they are plastered all over the front page it gets my attention.
Hi Phil – Ha ha.. yeah, different response now than before!
Hi Dave Starr – Yeah, I've since gone and read the article. Not sure how I missed it the first time!
Hi People in Phil, You are talking about medical news, so I would like to know how much will cost medical care in the Philippines especially like in Cotabato City, for woman who expects a baby delivery. How it looks in the Phil health care system and how much people will pay for this kind of medical service. Thanks for help.