'Bawal magkasakit!'

Medical care in this country is very expensive.

- RAYMUND W. LO, MD, FPSP

For the ordinary daily wage earner, the only recourse when confronted with a medical issue is to run to an overcrowded government hospital and duke it out with others in long lines, sometimes in the hot sun, to be seen by a doctor. When one is hospitalized, Philhealth coverage is often not enough to cover all expenses, and one has to purchase medicines and other medical supplies out of pocket.Often, medical interns and clinical clerks are the ones who have to fork out the money to buy intravenous fluids and medicines for their patients, which I’ve experienced in the Philippine General Hospital as an intern 50 years ago and is still an everyday occurrence in the country’s largest medical institution up to this day. Yes, we’re celebrating our golden jubilee and things have not changed a bit in this aspect.

One has to be in the best of health even as we age and start to feel the infirmities of old age. Some diseases are hereditary, like some cancers and high lipid levels which lead to heart attacks and strokes. But majority of maladies are lifestyle diseases which are preventable, brought on by excessive eating and drinking, as well as lack of attention to self-care.