Activist doctor receives threats anew

Health Alliance for Democracy strongly condemns the people behind harassment and threats from unknown elements to Dr. Darby Santiago. At 12:52 pm today, Dr. Santiago received his second death threat via text message.

In the past few weeks, Dr. Santiago, Doc Darbs to his patients and friends, has been vocal about hospital budget cuts and decreased budget for preventive health programs for 2018. "This is definitely alarming, in view of the fact that people get killed and get brushed aside because of the 'tokhang' campaign," said Dr. Santiago in his Facebook post. The text message read "Ingat ka. Dumadami atraso mo" from mobile number 09322374703. A few years back, Doc Darbs received a similar text message which read "Isang bala ka lang, ingat ka doc."

In the past months, five doctors have been killed mercilessly by unidentified men; justice still elusive. These killings, along with the growing number of killings perpetrated by state forces, has become a real threat to the common people, even professionals and doctors.

Dr. Darby Santiago is an ophthalmologist who specializes in retinal surgery and serves thousands of patients all around the Philippines. He is the first retina surgeon of the Ilocos Cordillera Region for the past 11 years. He is also a regular board examiner of the Philippine Board of Ophthalmology. Doc Darbs is also an academic professor at the University of the Philippines College of Medicine and De La Salle University College of Medicine. He is the chairperson of Health Alliance for Democracy.

HEAD calls on members of the health sector to be extra vigilant in these times of trouble. Despite harassments and threats, we encourage everyone to be strong and steadfast in their commitment to serve the people. Let us unite in the outrage against these threats to our colleagues. We also call on the public to condemn the brutal killings and unite in the call for justice.##

Health groups gather at the senate in support of Judy Taguiwalo

The progressive health sector joins the youth, teachers, the urban poor, workers, and farmers in support of Judy Taguiwalo, current Department of Social Welfare and Development chief. "We highly commend her service to the people, putting them in top priority and rejecting policies that permit corruption and patronage politics," said Dr. Darby Santiago, Health Alliance for Democracy chairperson.

With Judy as DSWD chief, the nation has seen one of the quickest responses from government agencies. Relief goods came quickly despite landslides and road blockades after Typhoon Lawin devastated Cagayan Province. The same was true after a magnitude 6.5 earthquake hit Leyte. DSWD was also one of the first relief teams on site during the Marawi conflict.

Taguiwalo, for most of her time in DSWD, rejected using DSWD funds as pork barrel for senators and congressmen. Patronage politics was out of the question. "This, we believe, is the reason why there are parties and/or individuals, members of the cabinet and militarists, who want her out of President Duterte's cabinet," said Dr. Santiago.

"Judy's rejection as DSWD chief will be a mere replay of what happened with Gina Lopez, who was rejected as Department of Environment and Natural Resources chief after instilling reforms that allowed the department to actually protect the environment," he added.

HEAD believes that the confirmation of Judy Taguiwalo, together with Rafael Mariano of the Department of Agrarian Reform, ultimately benefits the interests of the common people, farmers, and the urban poor. Their track record is proof of their success as public servants. Their rejection, on the other hand, would only serve the interests of the bureaucrats and oligarchs, whose greed is intent on exploiting government funds and laws through these government institutions.

"Upon their rejection from cabinet positions, the Duterte administration will be left with nothing: neither substantial reform nor change for the very same people that Duterte vowed to serve. Whatever achievement the Duterte administration had through these government institutions will be lost," added Dr. Santiago. "It is the coffers of corrupt politicians, bureaucrats, and the oligarchs that would prosper instead."

For these reasons, the health sector continues to support the confirmation of DSWD chief Judy Taguiwalo, and DAR chief Ka Paeng Mariano. The Duterte administration should stop listening to the dictates of the bureaucracy, as well as the whispers of his pro-US militarist officials. Duterte must uphold the interests of the masses. Confirm Judy!

2018 national budget for health: More money for curative, privatized health care

The proposed 2018 budget for health is bigger but not necessarily better. According to Health Alliance for Democracy, much of the P164 billion budget is focused on curative rather than on preventive healthcare and will mainly benefit the private sector.

"The Duterte administration inherited many complex health problems that require both short- and long-term solutions," according to Dr. Gene Nisperos, HEAD vice-chair. "But the 2018 health budget does not seem to reflect these solutions."

Once again, the National Health Insurance Corporation, or PhilHealth, will get the lion's share with P57 billion. This represents a 7% increase from its current budget and accounts for 35% of the entire national budget for health.

At the same time, almost all of the hospitals under the Department of Health will suffer an average of 24% cutback in their maintenance and operating expenses. Many will have 30% to 40% cuts.

The DOH-retained hospitals represent the last vestiges of health care services provided by the DOH. With such significant cuts in the budget for the maintenance and operating expenses of these hospitals, the DOH is practically crippling their ability to serve and leaving them to fend for themselves.

Moreover, preventive health programs, including those that focus on significant public health concerns, like tuberculosis, malaria, and HIV infections, will be short of P16.7 billion in budget as these suffer a whopping 52% budget cut.

"What does this all mean? That the DOH is allocating more money for curative care, which is more expensive and less cost-effective, rather than on preventive care. For a government that alleges limited resources, this is unsound policy." Nisperos said.

"But the curative care will be provided more by private hospitals and facilities rather than DOH hospitals. Right now, only 37% of hospitals accredited by PhilHealth are government run. So private hospitals and big pharmaceuticals will be grinning their way to the bank as they bilk PhilHealth of its billions," added Nisperos.

For HEAD, the DOH is sending the wrong message: with PhilHealth, the government is now a mere purchaser of health services rather than a provider of it.

"Once more, relevant health services and public health gives way to political expediency. This is the neoliberal program in health. Sadly, the people will be the ones to suffer for it," Nisperos concluded.

Is this really the kind of "legacy" this administration wants to leave?