Don't get me wrong. I have no complaints about the SUMC's staff or services. It was and is the extremely poor state of repairs/upkeep of the room. I have been in flophouse rooms that are in better condition than this "HOSPITAL" room. After I finely got back home I sent an email to the SUMC intern ER doctor that assigned me to that room. I told her that she should be ashamed of herself for putting me in a "privet room" in such poor state of repair. Did not get a reply. I am guessing that this SUMC's room had not seen a good maintenance/repair teem in a lot of years.

 

I think it comes down to which part of the hospital they put the patient in - the new part (sounds great) or the decrepit old part. And that is perhaps simply down to availability at the time (but there may be other factors I am not aware of, though @grandpainak seemed a good case for a decent room, having come from ER and requiring admission).

Anyway, pleased you had a good experience there - all 3 of you!

 

Sadly, they don't - they just continue to suffer or they die. The Philippines government should recognise (not by awards but by a few kind words at times) what many foreigners do for the citizens of the country. My father-in-law is NOT blind because I paid for his cataract operations (and I am sure many of you can quote even greater examples) - I seek no thanks but I do not like the singling out of 'aliens' for blame in the media as if we are a scourge on the country.

 

Yes, agree. My point though was about the illogical situation of being able to scrounge P10k from some charitable outfit, when you can 'afford' to pay P80k (no matter where it comes from), suggesting that you are not indigent. If the patient truly was indigent, as you say, he/she could not pay the bill to be able to claim a partial payment. Not sure where the P10k came from, as a niece sorted it, but there are apparently a couple of these around the city that you can try your luck with.

There are ignorant people in all societies, I'm afraid. Personally, I'm only bothered about the opinions of those who know me.

 

A year and a half ago at the start of my coronary nightmare in the SUMC ER I was told that a filipino was rejected from the ER because he could not pay. He died on the sidewalk in front of the hospital, heart attack. I learned a long time ago that if you did not have the ability to pay you were SOL as far is getting medical help here in the PI. Thank goodness my VISA credit card with a large credit limit kept the hospital doors open for me. As far as helping out with pesos. Wife paid for two cataract operations in her family. We also paid a large part of three funerals in wife's family. I also help out people I did know, before some one came asking for help. Just a couple of weeks ago I donated two vials of my "lantus insulin" to a 10 year old type 1 diabetic that is going blind because his family can't afford the medication. When the planes quit flying my shipment of lantus insulin was delayed and I had to buy it in Dumaguete at about 45 USD per vial. I told the the Barangay Council Woman that she and the kid's mother were not to tell anyone where they got the lantus insulin and insulin syringes because I did not want to here a bunch of sad stories that I was going to have to sort out trying to figure out what were real needs and what were cons. I do not do recreational drugs or smoke and I was raised up POOR and hungry so I have a very soft heart when a comes to poorer than me folks need help.
I and wife live from month to month but an awful lot of filipinos live from one meal to the next. About three years ago I gave 3000 pesos for a 5 year old that had Dungy when in fact there was nothing wrong with him. I got coned. But that did not stop me from helping others, it just made my far more cautious with my giving.

My 5 centavos

 

agree with your post. one of the reasons i am losing respect for my home country is that when i visit i am increasingly appalled at the wastage i see, much like i am appalled by the corruption here.

one thing to always remember grandpainak!! you have to keep yourself healthy in order to be of value to those around you. there is no way you can fix everything here so all you can do is set priorities and do what you can. we set the floor for my wifes parents and special sister. otherwise we have paid for things that keep wage earners in the field but that is really all. covid has strained us to do more for friends but its mostly for rice.

btw, the "generiks" (with a k) pharmacy across from easy mall (and mcdonalds) has far and away the lowest cost for meds but not a huge inventory. there are other outlets than that one. there is also a pharmacy near the north end of the main market that still sells antibiotics otc. (my wife took a treatment regimen to her brother yesterday from there)

good luck my friend. if you sleep well and wake up happy, you are on the right track!

 

Where is Easy Mall? There's more than one McDonalds. Thanks.

 

Same here - it does give a particular outlook on life.

You are a very generous man - we just have to be ever so careful about the cons as like air it is all around us.

 

My view is a bit more extreme in that I am only bothered about the opinion of the ONE person who knows the inside of my head ... ME!