MGA HOSPITAL NAHAHARAP SA MATINDING GASTUSIN (Mahal na health care pinangagambahan)

Nangangamba ang mga ospital sa bansa sa pagtaas ng labor costs at operating expenses na maaring magdulot ng pagmamahal ng health care.

 “Expenses are increasing now,” ayon kay Philippine Hospital Association president Jose P. Santiago, kung saan tinukoy ang pagtaas ng gastos sa utilities, tulad ng tubig at kuryente.

 “[And you] really have to upgrade your machines and to keep it really compatible with the times … The old machine that you have before? You have to upgrade. And that will be very expensive on our part,” saad niya.

Binanggit ni Santiago, na may grupo na binubuo ng nasa 2,000 private at government, na bumaba ang kita ng pribadong ospital taon-taon sa 5 percent hanggang 10 percent simula ng tumama ang pandemya.

“If your operational costs—such as salaries of workers—go up, the hospital will need to draw it from somewhere. It could mean increasing the rates for laboratory tests, ancillary procedures and accommodations. So health costs should also increase,” aniya.

Gayunpaman, sinabi niya na conservative pa rin sila sa hiking rates upang hindi masyadong mabigatan ang mga pasyente.

 “Hopefully, we can come up with a solution in the increasing costs of hospitals.”