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Health Care-------Philippines Style

loomixguy

Well-known member
I know that retread knows everything, or knows somebody who knows everything, but let me 'splain how health care in the Pee Eye works.

You get sick. You can:
A. Pray you get better, maybe enlist a faith healer to pray for you.
B. Go to Mercury Drug and get what you think you might need, anti-biotics, etc., all manner of drugs you need a scrip for here, but can buy OTC there.....and doctor yourself.
C. Go to the actual doctor, where he will first demand full payment up front before he examines you.
D. Go to the hospital, where they will barely let you in the door before they demand payment up front before you are examined.
E. Tough it out
F. Die

Now, IF you are lucky enough to have the dough to pay the hospital up front, and end up in a hospital bed, you will NOT get sheets, pillows, or blankets for the bed. Someone can bring these items (as well as meals) from home..otherwise...it ain't gonna happen.

They will NOT perform an operation unless they have been paid in full, in advance. If you show up at the door, deathly ill, with no money, they WILL let you die on the steps at no charge. They will kindly do the same for any pregnant woman or infant, too.

Americans or other foreigners are treated better, of course, but this treatment is SOP for all Filipinos. My wife's appendix burst in 1990 while she was waiting for her visa so she could come to the US. The hospital DID perform the operation after they were shown our marriage license and some wedding pictures. They decided that I would probably pay them. Once I got the news, I wired $400 USD there PDQ, cause they refused to release her until they were paid!

Life is pretty cheap in most places in Asia. Most countries will give you 2 basic rights. You have the right to starve, and you have the right to die.

FWIW, jail works pretty much the same way. If you have money, you can send the guards out for food, smokes, San Mig, and/or ho's. They will let you out of your cell upon request, and will give you a private cell with more comforts than most Pinoy's homes. All for a price....All for a price.
 
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