Fabella Hospital staff begin 24-hour vigil, accuse PNoy admin of profiteering

Employees and families of patients at Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Sta. Cruz, Manila on Wednesday began their 24-hour vigil and walkout protest a day before patients and employees are to be transferred to another facility.

Joined by health groups from other hospitals, the Alliance of Health Workers and Save Fabella Hospital Movement decried the transfer to a 50-bed capacity at the Philippine Blood Center in Quezon City as it would disenfranchise mothers. Fabella is a 700-bed maternal hospital.

A tarpaulin hangs from one of the windows of the Dr. Fabella Memorial Hospital in Manila on Wednesday, June 8, 2016. Hospital staff, along with members of health groups from other institutions, decried the planned transfer of patients and employees to another facility to address the building's structural problems. Danny Pata

Addressing Health Sec. Janette Garin, AHW spokesperson and nurse Sean Herbert Valechez asked, "Kung pro-safety ka, kumusta naman 'yung safety ng mga nanay na mahihirap na mawawalan ng ospital dahil sa kalokohan mo?"

"Isa kang doktor lamang sa pangalan pero real estate broker sa puso at utak," he continued.

Fabella will be temporarily closed to address structural issues worth P400 million while its P1.617-billion replacement at the DOH compound is under construction.

Its 1,000-strong manpower will be reassigned to other hospitals. Patients however have no assurance they will be accommodated in other institutions.

"The service in itself will be taken solely by that small hospital there, the Philippine Blood Center na 50-bed lang," Valechez said.

He continued, "Hindi sila (pasyente) ise-spread. Tatanggihan sila nung 50-bed. Kailangan nilang maghanap ng iba pang ospital na pagpupuntahan nila na napaka-illogical."

Employees favored Fabella's modernization but were dismayed by the decision to evacuate all eight of Fabella's buildings. Four of the eight buildings remain structurally sound.

"Ang gusto namin on-site development. Merong mga paraan para manatiling ligtas 'yung mga nanay pero hindi napeperwisyo 'yung mga serbisyo sa mga mahihirap na kalinayan," Valechez said.

"Wala naman pong may kontra na i-modernize 'yung Fabella hospital... The issue is may madi-disenfranchise na pasyente 'pag nag-raise 'yung cost of healthcare at itong interim na three years na itatayo nila 'yung hospital, saan pupunta 'yung mga nanay na kailangan magpagamot?" he continued.

Valechez added that it was the hospital that brought up its structural issues in 2007.

Alleged unused budget, profiteering

AHW noted in its statement that the DOH failed to use its P16-million budget for retrofitting and improvement in 2010 and NEDA's approved budget in 2014.

It stated that Garin and outgoing President Benigno Aquino III's sudden rush to abolish Fabella after neglecting to do so twice smelled of profiteering and need to privatize public institutions.

"Though Aquino government and DOH insist that this is not privatization, we believe that these projects in health are definitely under the general framework of privatization policy in the guise of modernization, and would mean more expensive, unaffordable health services for the people," AHW stated.

"They want to get rid of the hospital para maibenta nila 'yung buong compound," Valechez said.

Employees are hoping that instead of allowing land owner Home Guaranty Corp. (HGC), a government-owned company, to develop the land for commercial purposes, the government will give DOH the land and continue Fabella's services.

"Gobyerno naman may-ari ng lupa. I-donate na lang sa Department of Health, at tuloy-tuloy 'yung serbisyo," Valechez said.

Garin claimed last week that upon the advice of the DOH, a referendum was held by employees to decide if they want to transfer the hospital to the DOH's compound.

Valechez said a referendum was held but parameters have been changed.

"Nung lumabas 'yung paper ng referendum, and nakalabas: Payag ba kayong ipatayo pa 'yung bagong Fabella hospital? Biglang umiba 'yung tanong, framing, at hindi na black-and-white. Sino ba naman ang ayaw ipatayo 'yung bagong Fabella hospital?" he said.

The vote failed and turned to a signature campaign for the transfer of Fabella that only six employees signed.

"Magpapa-referendum na naman daw ulit pero hanggang ngayon, hindi pa nagte-take effect," Valechez said, "Ang ibig sabihin hindi urgent 'yung matter. Hindi life or death 'yung usapan."

GMA News Online has contacted Garin for comment but has yet to receive a reply as of posting time. —KG, GMA News