Healthcare errors in government hospitals

Do we have any survey on healthcare errors in Philippine government hospitals? Or a case study by patients, who experienced being hospitalized in government hospitals? Of course, such "academic study" is less interesting for government personnel and academicians due to several personal reasons. Besides, everybody is busy in various types of "scams" in the government, one of which is exemplified by pork barrel scam.

But setting aside these scams, let us try to focus on hospital needs of Filipinos, who were called "boss" by the "real and ultimate boss" in the executive branch.

Taking for example the following scenarios:

"It is observed that medical error-related cases are noted in hospitals such as, but not limited to, blood transfusion incidents, deaths due to neonatal sepsis (hospital delivered), medication errors, injuries to ureter and injuries on infant’s fingers during cesarean section, death due to administration of anesthesia, post-partum hemorrhage some resulting to death and, even, drowning".

In fine, based on the above, hospitals can already be considered as a battlefield because of the resulting deaths due to medical errors. But take note, there is no formal reporting system that was adopted, probably, due to the stigma that accompanies negligence.

Americans innovated on the issue by adopting patient safety standards. Accordingly, experts defined "Patient Safety" in hospitals as "avoidance, prevention and amelioration of adverse outcome/injuries stemming from the process of health care (Institute of Medicine, 2000). It refers to actions undertaken by individuals and organizations to protect health care recipients from being harmed by effects of healthcare services".

In a much publicized Institute of Medicine Report in 1999, it reveals that at least “44,000” and possibly “as high as 98,000” die in US annually due to “medical errors”, which, if further validly verified, may already be considered to be the 8th leading cause of death in US.

Based on American jurisprudence and without looking at the actual magnitude in the local settings, the policy makers, due to a pragmatic consideration, indulged immediately on intervention. PhilHealth included patient safety improvement in their standards and Department of Health (DOH) launched the Patient Safety Program in 2008. Selected hospitals, such as, Philippine Heart Center, National Kidney Transplant Institute (NKTI), St. Lukes and Medical City implemented the Patient Safety Program.

But is it enough? I don't think so. The best remedy however is still available, even without looking at the actual magnitude of the problem. That is-if Governors, Mayors and elected public officials in the local government units and their families are hospitalized, they should be admitted at the municipal, district and provincial hospitals, which they are supposed to take care under the local government code.

If Senators, Congressmen, Department Secretaries and high ranking officials and their families are hospitalized, they should be prohibited to be hospitalized at St. Lukes and Medical City, rather, they should be admitted at the district and provincial hospitals.

This remedy is seemingly impossible. The point, however, is that public servants should be serious enough in looking at the healthcare errors or the "healthcare battlefield" in the periphery, because they have promised to serve the people "constitutionally" and "legally", upon assumption of their offices.