Free Surgery

[anita]

Hi..
Does anyone knows if provincial hospital or any other hospital in Dumaguete has an upcoming surgery for any medical condition for free? My aunt had a thyroid surgery last year at Provincial Hospital for free and all she have to worry and pay is the medicine. I wonder if anyone knows when Provincial Hospital or any other hospital would do surgery for free. Anyone has any information regarding this matter I would appreciate it very much for the reply. My sister badly needed a thyroid surgery. Thank you

[Malfeis]

You probably meant the Surgical Medical Mission. But Provincial Hospital usually makes a free surgical treatment if it's really necessary. The best thing to do is go to the Out-Patient Department, then have an appointment. After the consultation, they should refer you to the appropriate doctor, or advise an operation if it's really necessary. Then tell the doctor about expectations and how much you're willing to give out for the surgery, if it will be advised. It helps a lot to ask and tell the people there about the result you want. Or simply ask when the next medical mission will be. Hope this helps.

[anita]

Thank you Malfeis..I'm going to send my sister to ask questions.

[Panday Pera]

Our missioners were in Duma in Jan 09 and just returned from Iloilo last month for this years mission. The next mission will be in Cebu around the first week of February 2011. I don't know exactly where it will be. Final decision on the actual location will be made in May or June. Also don't know if non-locals will be accepted. The missioners don't do the screening of the patients. Local doctors, medical residents (if available) and hospital administration (medical director) select the patients, based on ability to pay, surgical needs, pre-surgical test results and risks.

There are other groups that do missions in the Philippines but, sad to say were afraid the missions as we know it will be a thing of the past. There are even talk within our organization that 2011 will be our last mission. The red tape and restrictions being put on our organizations by the goverment (national and local) is getting so bad and restrictive. Some local physicians and medical associations (worried about lost revenue) are up and arms and very unwelcoming to the missioners and oftentime make us feel unwanted. Our Dumaguete experience, with the support of your Governor who himself is a surgeon, was a pleasant and orderly mission. Unfortunately we did not have enough time to see everyone and felt really bad about the people that stayed in line for hours just to be turned away at the end of the day. At our farewell dinner with the governor, although the mood was very festive, I witnessed many of our doctors and nurses privately in tears, feeling inadequate that they were not able to see and help everyone that came.

Sorry for going off topic, but if your sister's condition can be managed medically (with iodine supplement, etc) until the mission and if she is deemed eligible by the local doctors then maybe it's worth waiting for a year. If not then Malfeis's suggestion sound very good.

Hope this helps,
pp