I went for a medical check up in what I considered one of the most modern hospitals in the region, the Benguet General Hospital. Being a senior citizen, I was expecting to receive the services of the personnel thru the “express lane for senior citizens” which is found in one of the three counters. I joined the said express lane but first we were required to pay P20 for unknown reasons which my co-senior citizens and I paid without question.

The few benches were filled by seeming restless clientele-patients who have been there for the past hours and so with my co-senior citizens who told me that they have been standing for more than an hour. The same feelings, I think, were harbored by these lined up patients in front of the two counters waiting to be served by only one personnel who does the collection of cards and receipts, lists them in the log book, and goes inside to check patient records, comes back and distributes cards, gathers the others again in the same manner. We senior citizens were already neglected because no personnel was assigned to gather our cards or entertain our cause. Standing as eighth in a line of 15 senior citizens for almost an hour was tiresome, thus, I took the first move to inquire from the lone lady manning the counter. She replied that we should wait and even added some offensive comments such as: “No di kayo makauray bahala kayo, saanak a makina, mahina ang kalaban,” etc.

After 10 minutes, one reliever came and collected our receipts and mixed it with those in the other counter and after almost 30 minutes called us and gave us our papers. It was at that time that she informed us that they are undermanned.

Let me point out some observations so that the managerial lapses should be remedied:

1. There was no personnel to man the lane provided for senior citizens.
2. Too much delays in locating past records of returning patients. Perhaps computers can remedy this?
3. Some patient’s relatives are given priorities. May palakasan ba dito?
4. Some personnel are just sitting inside. Are they the bosses, or health providers who are supposed to have been trained to save life as a priority? Bakit nila pinapabayaan ang nag-iisa?
5. There was no express lane in the medical ward. The doctors there are young, fresh, and beautiful but seem unfriendly to patients.
6. You will find patients who are afforded mistreatments in its laboratory and X-ray rooms and the emergency counter does not give receipts if you don’t ask for it.
7. The test for blood sugar is being done by a private laboratory, why?

May our politicians and the DOH officials look into this, please!