MANILA, Apr 14, 2011 (IPS) – In a country where an estimated 4,500 women die every year due to complications during childbirth, the enactment of a reproductive health (RH) policy is said to be a measure that could save lives.

The Catholic Church has been very vocal in its opposition to a RH policy in the country, but not all religious organisations agree.

In a press conference dubbed ‘To Sin or not to Sin: The Views of Other Churches on RH’, representatives from different faith-based organisations expressed their support for the passage of the highly debated House Bill 4244 or the ‘Responsible Parenthood, Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2011’ and its Senate counterpart.

“We support the RH Bill because it is pro-life, it is pro-development and it is pro-poor,” said Bishop Efraim Tendero, of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC).

PCEC is the largest network of evangelical Christians in the Philippines and is composed of 25,000 evangelical churches, 66 denominations, and 150 community and mission organisations.

Addressing concerns of the Catholic Church that the bill would promote a “culture of death” by allowing artificial contraceptive methods, Tendero had this to say: “Life begins at fertilisation. Therefore if there is no fertilisation, there is no life yet. The use of artificial contraception is not taking away life because life has not yet started.”

Eduardo V. Manalo, executive minister of Iglesia ni Cristo to the Committee of Population and Family Relations, said that many of society’s worsening ills could be traced to families “growing so large that an increasing number of parents cannot provide the most basic human needs to their families.”

“The Bible states that a parent who does not provide for the needs of his own household is worse than an unbeliever. (I Tim 5:8),” Manalo said. “Since modern methods of contraception – by preventing married couples from having unwanted pregnancies – assist in supporting this Christian principle, we support their use,” according to the statement.

Iglesia ni Cristo is the largest entirely indigenous Christian religious organisation in the Philippines, and the largest independent church in Asia.

Bishop Rodrigo Tano of the Interfaith Partnership for the Promotion of Responsible Parenthood (Interfaith) claimed that if the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) professed to value the dignity of every human person, they should have more respect for human rights.

“To allow the deaths of mothers and babies because of a lack of a national policy is almost criminal,” said Tano, citing figures of maternal and infant deaths in the country.

According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), maternal deaths in the Philippines are one of the highest in the region. An estimated 11 women die every day in the country due to complications during pregnancy – most of these deaths are preventable. The problem is said to be particularly severe within the Muslim communities in Mindanao, where as many 320 mothers died per 100,000 live births according to the UN.

The Philippines has one of Asia’s fasted-growing populations, which is nearing the 100 million mark.

Interfaith is a gathering of various faith-based organisations, whose members include Iglesia ni Cristo, evangelical protestant churches, Roman Catholic individuals, and Muslim groups in Mindanao.

Tano also said that he was disturbed by the use of ambiguous terms, the lack of clarity in medical terms, and claims of the CBCP that there is no relation between population size and poverty.

“We should go by evidence and not by ecclesiastical declarations,” said Tano. “Evidence shows that families are unable to maintain their income, expenditures and savings as their size increases. The incidence of child labour also rises as family size increases.”

“When talking about issues of morality, let us look at the context of the Philippines and the context of the world,” suggested Rommel Linatoc, of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP). The NCCP is a fellowship of 10 Protestant and non-Roman Catholic denominations, and 10 service-oriented organisations in the Philippines. It represents close to 12 million adherents.

Linatoc expressed his support for the bill saying that it would affirm a better quality of life for families and ensure better health for women.

Ernesto Pernia, of the University of the Philippines School of Economics and a representative of Catholics for Reproductive Health (CRH), agreed that there is a morality issue that needed to be addressed.

“Our bishops in CBCP can not say that practicing RH is sinful in the Philippines, but it is not in Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Spain, Ireland and Italy because Catholics there practice family planning as a matter of course,” Pernia said. “The Catholic Church does not stand in the way of the government promoting or implementing a population policy.”

CRH is an alliance of Filipino Catholics advocating for the passage of the reproductive health bill and fighting for Filipinos’ right to reproductive health services.

Pernia pointed out that the Philippines is the only Catholic country that has not addressed its population issue. He added that the having a reproductive health policy would promote human development and a “life of dignity” rather than a “life of misery”, which is what many people who cannot properly care for their children are currently facing.

Ramon San Pascual of the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development Foundation, Inc. (PLCPD), said that churches support the passage of the RH bill as they know their members would benefit from it.

“We do not understand why some leaders of the Catholic Church are so stubborn that they refuse to see the issue in the perspective of their parishioners who in fact clamour for RH education and services,” said San Pascual.

Around 80 percent of the Philippines population is Catholic – and the Catholic Church sanctions only natural family planning methods.

Meanwhile, Pernia says that there were many priests, nuns and theologians who supported the bill as individuals but were still afraid to come out openly in support of it.

Following reports of the recent resumption of dialogue between the government and the Catholic hierarchy on RH, Elizabeth Angsioco, national chairperson of the Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines (DSWP) said that other religions and women’s groups in the country deserve to be heard.

“The President should be reminded that the country is not 100 percent Catholic. It is only right that he listens to other religious leaders,” Angsioco said. By Kara Santos

Hospitalization and Medical Emergencies in the Philippines

• General Information
• Medical Emergencies
• Insurance for Travelers
• Blood Donation
• Psychiatric Assistance
• Scuba Diving Accidents
• Medical Evacuations
• Hospitals and Medical Facilities in the Philippines
• English Speaking Doctors and Dentists

General Information

The Philippines is a tropical country and as such, diseases that are rare in the U.S. are more common in the Philippines. Depending on the areas that you plan to visit, you may wish to discuss the advisability of obtaining vaccinations for diseases such as Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, and Tetanus.  There are also several prevalent mosquito born diseases such as malaria and dengue fever which can be deadly.  Malaria is not a problem in Manila, but it is prevalent in many rural areas of the Philippines.  Malaria is most problematic on the island of Palawan; here, mefloquine or doxycycline is needed as a prophylactic.  In the other areas, chloroquine alone is recommended.  For additional information, refer to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) website. This page contains specific advice about malaria prevention in the Philippines by region.

For additional health guidance and a global rundown of diseases, immunization advice and risks in particular countries, please consult the CDC international travelers hotline at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747), their automated faxback service at 1-888-CDC-FAXX (1-888-232-3299), or the CDC home page.

Medical Emergencies

If an American citizen becomes seriously ill or injured abroad, a U.S. consular officer can provide information on the location of medical services and inform family or friends.  If necessary, a consular officer can also assist in the transfer of funds (transfer of funds) from the United States to cover hospitalization charges.  However, payment of hospital and other expenses is the responsibility of the traveler.

To facilitate identification in case of an accident, complete the information page on the inside of your passport providing the name, address and telephone number of someone to be contacted in an emergency.  A traveler going abroad with any preexisting medical problems should carry a letter from the attending physician describing the medical condition and any prescription medications, including the generic name of the prescribed drugs.  Any medications brought overseas should be left in their original containers and be clearly labeled.  Travelers should check with a Philippine Embassy/Consulate to make sure any required medications are not illegal in the Philippines.

Insurance for Travelers

Before going abroad, learn what medical services your health insurance will cover overseas.  If your health insurance policy provides coverage outside the United States, remember to carry both your insurance policy identity card as proof of such insurance and a claim form.  Although many health insurance companies will pay “customary and reasonable” hospital costs abroad, very few will pay for your medical evacuation back to the United States.  Medical evacuation from the Philippines can easily cost $10,000 and up, depending on your location and medical condition.

The Social Security Medicare Program does not provide coverage for hospital or medical costs outside the United States.

Blood Donation (RH Negative)

The blood banks at the Makati Medical Center and St. Luke’s Medical Center (both in Metro Manila) maintain lists of possible donors of Rh Negative blood.  In addition, the American Association of the Philippines maintains a similar list of possible donors.

The American Association of the Philippines can be contacted at (02) 892-5198 during normal working hours.  During non-office hours, please contact the Embassy Duty Officer at (02) 301-2000.

Psychiatric Assistance

There are no private facilities in the Manila area that will accept psychiatric patients unless they have first been so certified by a psychiatrist.  In the event a U.S. citizen will not consent to hospitalization, the police or immigration authorities may sometimes take her/him into custody and subsequently transfer her/him to a hospital.

Psychiatric facilities in the Philippines are:

• National Center for Mental Health (NCMH), 9 de Febrero, Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Tel.:  (02) 531-9001.  (NCMH is a government hospital.)

• Makati Medical Center, 2 Amorsolo Street, Makati, Metro Manila, Tel.: (02)  815-9911.  Makati Medical Center is a private hospital.  However, it has a psychiatric ward for the mentally-ill.  The patient’s bill for board/lodging, excluding professional fees, laboratory tests, and medicine, is approximately P695.00 a day.)

• University of Sto. Tomas (UST) Hospital, Espana, Manila, Tel.: (02) 731-3001.  (UST Hospital is a private hospital.  However, it has a community ward for the mentally-ill.  The patient’s bill for board/lodging, excluding professional fees, laboratory tests, and medicine, is approximately P500.00 a day.)
  

Scuba Diving Accidents

There is one recompression chamber in the Philippines available to treat scuba divers suffering from the bends. It is located at the Subic Yacht Club, Subic, Zambales, Philippines.  The chamber, which has a 3-4 person seating capacity, is open 24 hours.

Contact

Dr. David Calapatia, Calapatia Polymedic Clinic
Tel.:  (047) 222-2002 (H) – 24 hours
(047) 222-9600 (W)
Cellular No.:  0917-512-0320

Subic Yacht Club
Tel.:  (047) 252-5211; (047) 252-2431
(24 hours)

Divers who do not wish to undergo recompression treatment in the Philippines may be able to seek the assistance of the U.S. Navy chamber in Guam, Tel:  (00671) 339-7143.  As in all medical cases, it is the responsibility of the American citizen to arrange transport from the Philippines to Guam.

Medical Evacuations (Medevacs)

In-country Medevacs:  In-country or domestic medical transport of patients from an outlying province to Manila may be accomplished with the assistance of the Manila Rescue Coordination Center (RCC).   RCC provides assistance with in-country medevacs, which it refers to as “Airlift Missions.”  While RCC does not have the resources to conduct the operation itself, it acts as a coordinating body and can refer the request to the appropriate offices.  RCC’s Operations Center is open 24 hours.  Below are telephone numbers for RCC and other Philippine government agencies that can assist with in-country medevacs.

RCC Duty Officer
Tel:  (02) 832-3013; 877-1109, local 3446, 3800, 3030;
759-9502 through 03
Email:  rcc@ats.ato.gov.ph

Air Transportation Office (ATO) Operations
Tel.: (02) 831-6215
Fax:  (02) 833-0127

Philippine Air Force, 505th Search and Rescue Group
(Helicopter Search and Rescue)
Villamor Air Base, Pasay City, Tel:  (02) 853-5013, 853-5121
Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, Tel:  (077) 773-1499 or 773-2402
Tuguegarao, Cagayan, Tel:  (038) 844-1800
Mactan, Cebu,  Tel:  (032) 340-2212
General Santos City, Tel:  (083) 555-0065

Philippine Coast Guard
Operations, Tel.: (02) 527-3870, Fax: 527-3880
Coast Guard Air Group,  Tel.: (02) 832-3756

International Medevacs: Although medical care is generally good in the Philippines, there are conditions for which evacuation to the U.S. may be necessary.  Since a private plane can cost more than $10,000 for a single flight, you may wish to consider obtaining medical evacuation insurance coverage prior to travelling overseas.  There are several companies in the United States that offer such insurance.

Persons needing to be medevaced to the U.S. or other foreign destinations should contact a commercial airline or commercial medical evacuation service.

The House of Representatives may soften its stand on the controversial cheaper medicines bill. In an interview, Speaker Jose de Venecia urged the proponents of the Cheaper Medicines Act to consider the request of doctors to remove the provision on the “prescription of generic names of drugs.” De Venecia already said he talked to the principal author of the bill, Iloilo Rep. Ferjenel Biron, to open a dialogue with doctors.

“I talked to him [Biron] over the phone to consider or include the request of the doctors in Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and in Metro Manila,”de Venecia said.

But de Venecia said that doctors should also appeal to senators since the bill will be acted upon by the both chambers of Congress.

Members of the Philippine Medical Association earlier threatened to stage a “hospital holiday” to express their objection to a provision of the bill, which mandates doctors to prescribe only generic names of drugs.

The doctors claimed that they also have to prescribe branded drugs during certain occasions.

On the other hand, Biron said that among the salient features of the bill, the provisions on the prescription of generic drugs could be easily reconciled or resolved. –Maricel V. Cruz

President Arroyo on Thursday vowed to compete with international drug companies in an attempt to expand low-cost medicine program of the government.

Mrs. Arroyo stressed she would not let giant drug laboratories to get in the way of the passage of cheap medicine bill.

Mrs. Arroyo issued the statement following attempt of Pfizer Philippines to derail passage of House Bill 6035, or the Half Price Medicine Bill, during the second day of the special session of Congress Tuesday.

With the success of the government’s half-priced medicine program the President is determined to expand it so more poor people could benefit from the program.

In a roundtable in Malacañang Thursday afternoon, Mrs. Arroyo said the program could include any drugstore willing to sell the commonly used medicines at cheaper prices.

“The reason why we asked the Philippine International Trading Corp. to buy these cheap medicines is because we want to make sure any drugstore can have it,” Mrs. Arroyo said.

Rep. Teddy Locsin of Makati City during the discussion explained that parallel importation of patented medicine was permitted in the original bill, “what the House did was to expand it,” to accommodate larger market of distributors. BY Sam Mediavilla, Reporter