16/10/2025
My Public Hospital Experience
Last night, my sister messaged me in panic — our brother was breathing hard.
Without a second thought, I called 911. Thankfully, they responded quickly and brought my brother to the nearest hospital.
I lost contact with my mother, who went with him in the ambulance, so I had no idea where they’d be admitted. Before that, I already told my sister not to bring him to the public hospital in Trece — I knew how short-staffed they were.
This morning, I finally reached my mother. That’s when I found out my brother was admitted to that same public hospital in Trece.
Good thing he’s now stable.
After finishing my errands, I went straight to the hospital. And as expected, the situation broke my heart.
Here’s what I saw — a glimpse of reality inside many public hospitals:
1. Overflowing patients. The emergency room was full. Children and elderly people were struggling to breathe, just sitting on chairs because there were not enough beds.
2. Lack of supplies and staff. My brother had been in the emergency room for almost 24 hours, still waiting for an available room. His oxygen tank and dextrose were already empty. I had to approach the nurse myself to request a refill. The nurse, clearly exhausted, said:
> “The doctor handling your patient is still attending to others.”
While I was still at the nurse’s station, another woman brought in a new patient. The doctor told her:
“Gusto mo ba ibaba na sa ambulance yung pasyente mo? Wala pa kaming oxygen, tapos hindi agad maaasikaso kasi ang dami niyong pasyente, iilan lang kami. Pasensya na, pero yan talaga ang realidad.”
The woman quietly walked away in tears.
I almost cried too. You can’t blame the doctors and nurses — despite the stress, low pay, and lack of benefits, they still choose to serve and stayed despite of everything.
3. Families left with no choice. Nearby, a mother carried her daughter and said no one had attended to them yet. I told her to try another hospital, but she asked, “Meron bang hospital na kaya naming bayaran?”
That’s when it hit me again — this is why many end up in overcrowded public hospitals. They simply can’t afford anywhere else.
The painful truth is this: billions of pesos have been stolen — money that could’ve been used for hospital beds, oxygen tanks, medicine, and fair wages for our healthcare workers. Instead, it funds the lavish lifestyles of corrupt politicians.
Nakakapanlumo at nakakakaiyak makita ang ganitong kalagayan ng mga kababayan natin.
Just because some of us have insurance, HMO, or savings doesn’t mean we should stay silent.
We all deserve better.
Let’s not stop calling out, demanding accountability, and fighting for a healthcare system that truly serves the people.
Nasaan ang mga puso ng mga corrupt politicians from House of Representatives of the Philippines Senate of the Philippines Presidential Communications Office ?
-ctto
