Health & Wellness Health and Hospitals

When you live in Philippines, even Dumaguete, this is a problem. My friend died in Silliman Hospital because he suffered a heart attack, (in the hospital due where he was admitted due to flu-like conditions), and the doctor told me they do not have the facilities to properly care for a heart attack victim and he was not stable enough to transport to a better quality hospital (such as airplane to St Lukes in Manila).

So he lived for about 10 days in ICU where he slowly deteriorated and the doctor said, (in English and while I was there listening), to his live in partner that "he is just old and there is nothing more we can do for him." Tom had just had his 70th birthday and was otherwise in good health. Does that seem old to you? In a first world country there are many survivors of heart attacks at age 70, especially when they occur in the hospital.

Thus it is my opinion that if quality of hospital is a primary consideration in your choice of where to live you can only consider Manila, Cebu and possibly Davao (have not checked that one out).

 

Just like my partner even though he started visiting the Philippines in 1992, I don't think that's enough for him to be excited to retire there. He's been taking high blood pressure medication, he's big and I'm tiny which means I need help to take care of him when he gets sick. Finally, last night he said, if we can, we'll stay in Japan. I just wish there are more flights from Dumaguete to Cebu.

 

Not at All, I am 70 next year and being a Stroke survivor has had it's own Problems yet still fine Fine (as of now that is) but we are quite a few here on DI that are over 70 and I am almost sure we will all strive to carry on. It does worry me a little on reading this post though that a hospital like SMU Cannot cope with an issue that is an everyday occurrence here in this fair City I don't have any statistics on this but I would guess Heart disease and/or plain coronaries are one of the biggest killers here

 

Do you do your regular health check at SUMC or somewhere in Cebu and Manila?

 

Every 3 Months at SUMC, up to now no problems, My Doc seems Good, Listens to me and that I like.

 

This is not isolated to just 3rd World Hospitals, in Australia 18,000+ people die each year and a further 50,000+ are injured to poor Hospital care. I am one of those statistics after a leading Orthopedic Doctor who was the head of the Hospital at that time bungled my operation, at first operating on me with too little anesthetic causing me to be alert during the initial operation, then shutting down my heart when the Anesthetist overdosed me trying to put me back to sleep! After recovering from that, I found he had put my leg together wrong meaning my right foot pointed almost to a right angle to the right when I laid down or tried to stand, my right arm which he re-broke and reset had a kink in it and I was given bad blood which gave me Hep B which has badly affected my Liver. After infection set in the steel plate had to be removed resulting in my leg bone remaining broken now since 1985.

And no; I could not sue the Hospital because I signed forms letting them off of the hook should something go wrong in their care/operations... However, the Hospital tried suing me to recover costs of operations, bed stay etc forcing me into a failed expensive (on my part) attempt to sue another party, the only ones to get rich were the Lawyers involved, only once they walked away after receiving Government funding for 8 years did the Hospital drop its case against me...

My Wife worries about me here in the Philippines thinking I will get far better care if we lived in the City closer to the Hospital, but I accept what may come as I have no faith here or back home in Oz that I will receive life saving care from any of the Medical systems on offer, and IF it happens (life saving care) then it is a bonus, come what may...

The World Today - Medical mistakes: a silent epidemic in Australian hospitals 10/06/2013

 

I also attend SUMC to see a Blood Specialist and have learnt more about my condition here in the past two years and have been able to do something very positive about it compared to what I have experienced in the past 20+years back in Oz dealing with problems with private Doctors. I have to say I AM VERY HAPPY with my Dr here!

 

Has there not been any advance over the last 30 years that 'they' could repair your leg?

 

According to the Doctors in Oz; "NO"... I have since spoken to many others at the fracture clinics who are much worse off than I am with bones completely missing, removed due to infection or from the rejection of a foreign body (steel plate/joint etc) I am not an isolated case by far. if people really knew how much hospitals screw up in the West they would most likely be not so worried about the Hospitals here in the Philippines. MANY Westerners actually come to SE Asia to seek out medical procedures deemed to be cheaper and safer than back home. When your time is up it is up, enjoy the trip!

 

From the way you always talk about it, I commend you on your great attitude. I know how difficult it can be at times. Although different issue and circumstances I have been dealing with my 'issues', let's see.... just over 26 years now.

I just assumed modern medicine, which does knee and hip replacements hundreds/thousands? every day, a bone repair would be simple. I guess I give them too much credit.

I agree it is better to come here and enjoy life as much as we can vs staying back in our home countries merely existing.