Wounded soldiers pay for own treatment, lawmaker says

MANILA, Philippines - While the military has billions in funds, soldiers wounded in combat are apparently forced to pay for their own treatment, Pangasinan Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil said yesterday.

He said he sought the help of the House of Representatives in rehabilitating and giving sufficient funds to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Medical Center, also known as the V. Luna Hospital, so it can attend to the needs of soldiers. His appeal is contained in Resolution 2912.

Bataoil, a former police officer, said the AFP hospital owes soldiers it treated and discharged “a staggering amount of more than P60 million” in reimbursements.

“The reimbursements suggest that soldiers have to shell out their own money for immediate treatment, hospitalization and medical care…a soldier could be caught in a dreadful and merciless situation if one could not afford to advance the needed expenses,” he said.

Aside from advancing money for their treatment, wounded soldiers have to contend with poor conditions in their hospital.

 “The present unpleasant state of AFP Medical Center does not provide a good atmosphere for patients or soldiers recuperating from combat wounds. It is in a bad condition. It has poor lighting and ventilation, crowded wards and unpleasant restrooms,” Bataoil said.

He said that the “deplorable state” of the AFP hospital’s facilities, infrastructure, medical equipment, and supplies “calls for crucial support and careful attention from the national government.”

The AFP Medical Center, located along V. Luna Road in Quezon City, was established in 1937 to provide quality tertiary health care services to AFP personnel, dependents and other authorized civilians.

Bataoil did not say how much he wants allocated for the soldiers’ hospital.

For 2012, the AFP hospital had P341.2 million for personnel salaries and P756.9 million for maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE), for a total of P1.1 billion, with no money appropriated for equipment. The entire AFP had a budget of P68.9 billion.

For 2013, the military’s budget amounts to P77 billion, of which P1.2 billion is allocated for its V. Luna hospital, which will still have no funds for equipment procurement.