While the more fortunate among us can easily take time off for doctors’ visits and sick leave, it’s not that simple for many working-class and blue-collar Filipinos.
Some may qualify for government programs, but strict monitoring means missing even one treatment could send them back to square one. In other words, it’s back to those long queues and potential lost wages.
To be fair, many of the country’s top private hospitals have subsidized wards for those with less means. But a few of our trusted insiders said they wished these spaces offered patients a little more dignity.
A major medical center in a modern business district, for instance, the entrance to the charity ward sits close to the morgue and remains un-airconditioned in this unforgiving tropical climate.
It’s a similar story in a few other healthcare facilities, we’re told.
It might be a good idea for hospitals with deeper pockets to invest in a better entrance and air-conditioning in their waiting areas.
It’s a minimal add on expense and it goes a long way toward making care feel a little more humane.
Miguel R. Camus has been a reporter covering various domestic business topics since 2009.
