Fight vs Orthopedic Center privatization reaches SC

MANILA, Philippines - A group of health workers on Monday asked the Supreme Court to halt  the privatization of the Philippine Orthopedic Center.

The alliance of groups, represented by lawyer Edre Olalia, cited in the 62-page petition the constitutional provision on the people's right to health in seeking a temporary restraining order.

"The bleeding and injured destitute patients in representation of themselves and in representation of all others to be similarly situated come now to the Court because they are being rushed to the emergency or operating room for profit by those who should be taking care of themselves in the first place," Olalia wrote.

"They will be bled dry for commercial fees due to privatized health care service by forces preying on their miserable conditions," the lawyer added.

The group also stated that the Constitution tasks government should provide for citizens' health without passing the duty to private corporations.

"Basic social service should not be relinquished to a private entity through privatization or commercialization of a government hospital to the prejudice of the poor and underprivileged," Olalia said.

The Department of Health (DOH) and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) earlier awarded the public hospital's ownership to Megawide Construction Corp. and World Citi Medical Center.

The transfer of hospital's ownership as a "modernization" move is part of the Aquino administration's Public-Private Partnership campaign entrusted to NEDA. The Orthopedic Center was the first hospital to be privatized by government.

The group said Aquino as well as officials of the DOH and NEDA committed a grave abuse of discretion in relinquishing control of the health institution.

Olalia, herself a member of the National Union of People's Lawyers, also wrote in the petition that government respondents violated the Constitution in expanding the Build, Operate and Transfer to accommodate further privatization of state-owned corporations and services.