The SFHM obtained a letter dated Aug. 10, 2016 signed by Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial and addressed to Fabella hospital director Dr. Esmeraldo Ilem, approving proposals to downsize the bed capacity from 700 to 200.
'This is contrary to Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial’s statement during the budget hearing in the House of Representatives that Fabella Hospital would not be transferred.'
"The transfer is a step towards abolishment of free and affordable hospital services.”
“Let us unite and ask President-elect Rodrigo Duterte and incoming Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial to modernize our hospital by allotting more government budget and award the lot to the hospital.”
The impending closure of Fabella will not only affect hospital patients and employees, but may also lead to the displacement of families residing nearby.
Special Report:
“Where will the poor mothers go?”
Ni MARK ANGELES Libo-libong buntis ang peregrinong Pumisan sa silungan mo, Fabella; Hindi man nagsayaw sa Obando O nag-alay ng itlog kay Sta. Clara. Dikit-dikit sa dibdib mong tigulang: Kapwa ina’t inakay na nanlalambot. Nalampasan nila ang kamatayan Ngunit hindi...
Protesters vow to stay vigilant to keep the maternity hospital in its place.
“For Health Secretary Janette Garin, if the hand hurts, the head must be decapitated. Is that the right solution?”
MANILA – Hospital equipment have began to be pulled out from the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital on Wednesday, June 1. Health workers and residents from surrounding communities barricaded the gate to prevent two trucks carrying out equipment from the hospital....
“This is the only hospital that caters to poor mothers, not only those who live here in Manila but also nearby provinces, and still the government will close it down.”
“The closure of Fabella hospital, amid the privatization of several other government-run hospitals and healthcare facilities, does not bode well for the continuous hike in maternal and infant mortality rates in the country.”
Health workers and patients of the century-old maternity hospital fear that its transfer is prelude to its privatization.
“Clients and health workers are uniting to call on the DOH to desist from putting into danger the situation of our mothers, because this move will surely increase maternal death rates in the Philippines.”
“The local government should spare medical services from income-generating measures. Access to health service is a right.” – Gabriela Women’s Partylist
“We should not keep silent on this issue (of privatization) because health is a people’s right.” – Dr. Eleonor Jara, convenor of No to Privatization of Public Hospitals
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