BURDENED with huge costs for indigent medical assistance, some League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) member mayors eye an investment that maximizes their resources through the Medical Mission Group (MMG) of hospitals.
League President Roberto Salinas said it is high time that local governments think wisely about their resources and putting them in an investment that offers affordable socialized medical service in the MMG with the new Bohol Cooperative Hospital is a step in the right direction.
MMG, through accountant Timoteo Batingal presented to the mayors a schema, which allows towns to invest in the new hospital and in turn, their patients earn discounts, dividends and other perks.
By presenting a matrix of investments amounts and its corresponding benefit for investors, Batingal stressed that paying patients who use the help of private hospitals pay higher and do not earn rebates.
He also added that the MMG charges lower and because it is a cooperative hospital, shareholders share the dividends at the end of the year.
For the mayors, Salinas shared that local government units pay huge amounts for indigent hospitalization and earn nothing.
He added that some LGUs may even over-spend, adding that by investing its resource instead, more and more patients could be admitted because by co-owning the hospital, the LGUs can also earn with the profits.
Now building its multi-million Cooperative Hospital in a hectare-wide compound near Island City Mall, the MMG, which is founded by a Boholano hopes to widen its service catch-ment here, says Dr. Benjamin Galia, medical director.
Capitol Health Consultant Fancy Baluyot accompanied MMG and also asked mayors to consider the offer and be investors rather than simply availing of paid services. (PIA)
