Capitol dads eye guidelines to regulate medical missions
A working committee will be formed in the Capitol to come up with clear guidelines on the holding of future medical missions in Iloilo.
With senior Iloilo officials still reeling from the 'aftershocks' left by the medical mission of a Nevada- based Filipino-American medical team, at least three board members gathered to firm up the move.
The province for years now had been a regular venue for free medical missions. Until this latest mission, no procedures nor guidelines have been set despite hanging request from concerned Ilonggo doctors.
This, as family members of a 2 year-old now grieve over the boy's fate in a medical mission complication that left him in comatose condition for nine days. The youngest in the family, Mathew Panes unfortunately lost his battle early Friday morning. (See related story)
First District Board Member Macario Napulan initiated the meeting last Wednesday in his capacity as chairman of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee on Health.
The News Today (TNT) learned that among those present were Second District Board Member June Mondejar and Fifth District Board Member Jett Rojas, both committee members. Likewise present were Provincial Health Officer Dr. Patricia Grace Trabado, two senior doctors from the Iloilo Provincial Hospital (IPH), medical mission team coordinator Jane Barrido and the boy's father Manuel Panes aided by counsel, noted Ilonggo lawyer Dennis Ventilacion.
Foremost in the discussion was the condition of Mathew who was then in critical condition -- Glascow Coma Scale (GCS) 3 -- at the Iloilo Doctors Hospital. The family was assured of full financial assistance with two board members stressing that equally liable and responsible here is the Iloilo Provincial Government.
"All things had been considered during the committee meeting last Wednesday. It depends if there will be new issues that will surface. We will still discuss about this development (referring to Panes' death) with my other committee members," Board Member Napulan in a text message sent yesterday to TNT said. "If an autopsy had been done, I think that could answer some questions but not necessarily solve all our concern."
The medical mission was facilitated by the Iloilo Provincial Government held January 24 to February 3 with the IPH as venue.
TNT gathered that the boy had an arrest purportedly within the hour that the surgery was performed. The medical team present immediately made attempts to revive the 2 year-old. A decision was later reached to transfer the patient to Iloilo Doctors Hospital (IDH) in Molo, Iloilo City with an Ilongga Pediatrician-Pulmonologist taking over Panes' case.
Asked then for comment, Dr. Patricia Grace Trabado, Iloilo Provincial Health Officer told TNT that she was told of the incident by an IPH staff but stressed that she has yet to get further details.
The medical mission led by Melvin Barrido and wife Jane, Dr. Trabado also explained, was duly coordinated and facilitated by the provincial government. And IPH in Pototan, Iloilo as the venue and corresponding activities went through the discussions and arrangements made with the provincial health office. In fact, she continued, referrals for patients came from various Iloilo towns coursed through respective town mayors.
The medical complication on the case of the 2 year-old was most unfortunate, Dr. Trabado added while saying, "wala gid bisan sin-o nga doctor ang gusto nga may matabo nga kumplikasyon (no doctor wants any complication to happen). We are doing everything to help."
Capitol sources told TNT though the gnawing concern reportedly raised by other health office workers since day one of the medical mission.
The IPH, sources pointed out, do not have equipment needed in pediatric cases. Among those pointed out as unavailable here are pedia-ventilators, the Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) necessary to monitor oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood system of the child, equipment for electrolytes or special chemistry.
"Handling of Pediatric cases is different. Check IPH records if indeed it is a normal and regular procedure here because it is common knowledge that child-patients even like appendectomy of a 10-year old is usually referred to city hospitals," one source who requested anonymity said.