BACKGROUNDER: 

The Philippines has always been in a paradoxical situation health wise. We have one of the world’s highest incidences of malnutrition and infectious diseases. Sixty two (62) out of a hundred Filipinos die without being seen by a doctor or a nurse. In Surigao del Sur, 69 percent of Surigaonon die without seeing a doctor or a nurse. Yet the Philippines is the number one exporter of nurses and the number two exporter of doctors next to India worldwide. Indeed, five thousand out of the remaining 20 thousand doctors here in the Philippines are studying to be nurses in the hope of being able to find work abroad. We have exported roughly 51,000 nurses for the last five years. If we look back on the educational system that we acquired, we could say that no wonder our doctors and nurses are eventually exported because of the fact that our educational system is patterned after the western concept. 

Clearly, the reason for this is money. The Filipinos cannot afford to pay the doctors and nurses well for their health needs and the doctors and nurses feel that they do not earn as much here as when they work abroad. 

Yet it is a fact that health is one of the highest earning industries in the country. Alone, the drug industry in the Philippines earned a total of 100 billion pesos last year (about $1.5 billion). Most of these drugs are beyond the reach of ordinary Filipino patients, because Philippines have the most expensive drugs worldwide. 

The average Filipino’s budget for health is about 2% of his total yearly income. The average Filipino spends 8-10% of his total yearly income for tobacco, alcohol, gambling and other vices.. 

The Filipino can easily set aside 30 pesos for a pack of cigarettes or a bottle of rhum daily. This amounts to about 900 pesos a month or 10,800 pesos a year. He could also easily place a bet with lotto and “last two” to about 9,200 pesos a year. But he would be sorely pressed to come up with the same amount should any of his family members need hospitalization during the year. 

The Medical Mission Group Hospitals and Health Services Cooperative of Surigao del Sur believes that there is no such thing as private health. Health should be public and like wealth should be put into the hands of the people. We should put into the hands of the toiling masses the power that emanates from their toil.  

There is need to approach this paradox in two ways: 

1. We need to find ways to inculcate the proper values in the Filipino household that will focus on providing more for their health than for vices like tobacco and alcohol.

2. We need to provide an effective means for the Filipino to save the money, which he would otherwise easily spend on vices on a daily basis.  

1.  Koop Ko Koop Mo Program

Medical Mission Group Hospitals and Health Services Cooperative of Surigao del Sur believe there is no such thing as private health. Health should be public and like wealth should be put into the hands of the people. We should put into the hands of the toiling masses the power that emanates from their toil. 

With the exodus of Pinoy Doctors and Nurses, the more the people should be involve and be aware that “Kahimsugan Ko Tulubagon Ko” thereby empowering our people on health. Medical Mission Group Hospitals and Health Services Cooperative of Surigao del Sur are now into massive campaign of informing and educating the people in the concept of self-help on health through the cooperative way. 

Entice each Surigaonon, cooperatives, agencies, association and corporations to become associate members of Medical Mission Group Hospitals and Health Services Cooperative of Surigao del Sur and avail of health package and special considerations. OFW’s, Fil-Ams and other Fil-Foreigners are also encouraged to be part of this endeavor by becoming an associate member thereby indirectly helping relatives who are left behind.  

With a minimum share capital of only four hundred pesos (P400.00), MMG members could already avail of the services and medicines at a discounted rate on top of 12% per annum interest on share capital and patronage refund. Members who invested substantial amount are given special privileges.            

a. Capital Share of P400.00 – P9,999.99 

·         20% discount on all laboratory procedures

·         20% discount on ECG

·         20% discount on X-ray

·         20% discount on consultation fees

·         10% discount on dental procedures

·         10% discount on surgical, obstetrical and gynecological procedures

·         5 – 20% discount on medicines and medical/hospital supplies

·         10% discount on hospitalization fees

·         10% discount on hospital accommodations  

b. Capital Share of P10,000.00 – P49,999.99                   

·         20% discount on all laboratory procedures

·         20% discount on ECG

·         20% discount on X-ray

·         20% discount on consultation fees

·         10% discount on dental procedures

·         10% discount on surgical, obstetrical and gynecological procedures

·         5 – 20% discount on medicines and medical/hospital supplies

·         15% discount on hospitalization fees

·         15% discount on hospital accommodations

·         Free annual executive check-up on principal member only 

c. Capital Share of P50,000.00 – P99,999.99 

·         20% discount on all laboratory procedures

·         20% discount on ECG

·         20% discount on X-ray

·         20% discount on consultation fees

·         10% discount on dental procedures

·         10% discount on surgical, obstetrical and gynecological procedures

·         5 – 20% discount on medicines and medical/hospital supplies

·         20% discount on hospitalization fees

·         20% discount on hospitalization accommodations

·         Free annual executive check-up on principal member and his/her spouse  

d. Capital Share of P100,000.00 – P499,999.99 

·         20% discount on all laboratory procedures

·         20% discount on ECG

·         20% discount on X-ray

·         20% discount on consultation fees

·         10% discount on dental procedures

·         10% discount on surgical, obstetrical and gynecological procedures

·         5 – 20% discount on medicines and medical/hospital supplies

·         20% discount on hospitalization fees

·         30% discount on hospital accommodations

·         Free annual executive check-up on principal member and his/her spouse

·         Free annual physical examination on all qualified dependent children

·         Parents of the principal member and his/her spouse could avail of all the privileges except for annual physical exam and executive check-up  

e. Capital Share of P500,000.00 and above 

·         20% discount on all laboratory procedures

·         20% discount on ECG·         20% discount on X-ray

·         20% discount on consultation fees

·         10% discount on dental procedures

·         10% discount on surgical, obstetrical and gynecological procedures

·         5 – 20% discount on medicines and medical/hospital supplies

·         20% discount on hospitalization fees

·         50% discount on hospital accommodations

·         Free annual executive check-up on principal member and his/her spouse

·         Free annual physical examination on all qualified dependent children

·         Parents of the principal member and his/her spouse could avail of all the privileges to include annual physical exam and executive check-up  

**** Qualified dependent children:                       

- Unmarried children below 21 years of age                    

**** Only member in active status could avail of these privileges (Member is required to add a minimum of P100.00 annually to make his/her membership active.) 

**** Services should be rendered by accredited MMG Physicians or Dentists only. 

**** Vaccines are not included in the discounts.  

2. Mag-impok Para Sa Kalusugan/Save Your Way to Health

Health is a Basic Human Right. Every basic right carries a corresponding obligation. It is the individual’s obligation to realize and protect this right. The individual shoulders this obligation only within the context of an interactive community. 

The MEDICAL MISSION GROUP HOSPITALS AND HEALTH SERVICES COOPERATIVE OF SURIGAO DEL SUR proposes the creation of a community service arm that will focus on the formation of HEALTH UNITS within their target areas. 

HEALTH UNITS are defined as groups of twenty households in a neighborhood each headed by a Unit Leader or Unit Coordinator who is tasked with organizing and maintaining the households into a small health cooperative, interacting actively with the MMGHHSC-SDS for their members’ health needs. 

Through the health cooperative, the MEDICAL MISSION GROUP HOSPITALS AND HEALTH SERVICES COOPERATIVE OF SURIGAO DEL SUR puts into the hands of the toiling masses, the power that emanates from their toil.  

Utilizing the Filipino traditional concept of saving, the MMGHHSC-SDS urges the Filipino in general and Surigaonon in particular to save for his eventual illness.  

The Unit Leader or Unit Coordinator will be responsible for the collection of a minimum of 10 pesos a day from the twenty households organized or households who are willing to save. The collected amount will be deposited at MMG Savings and Loan Center under the name of the member. The deposit will earn interest and member will be issued with MMG Savings Passbook. At the MMGHHSC-SDS, the health care or hospitalization needs of listed members of the participating households will be paid from their own savings. A minimum maintaining balance of P500.00 is required in order to avail of the discounts as stipulated under the “Koop Ko Koop Mo” program.