Senate hears cataract patients’ plight

Cataract patient undergoing eye examination (Photo courtesy of Flickr/Individuell Människohjälp)

MANILA – During the Senate blue ribbon committee’s second hearing on the P2-billion alleged misappropriated funds of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), several cataract patients who have gone through ‘unnecessary’ eye operations have testified.

PhilHealth member Romeo Fernando shared how he had two cataract operations on both his eyes at the Borough Medical Care Institute. But still having trouble seeing clearly even after the operations, he then underwent four laser treatments on his left eye at the Pacific Eye Institute. Still not having improved eyesight, he went to the Philippine General Hospital only to find out that his iris was damaged. There was nothing they could do with his right eye. Fernando ended up blind in his right eye.

“We believe that the operation was unnecessary because the eye was already blind and a laser operation was not needed,” PhilHealth vice president for internal audit Dr. Robert Louie So said, referring to Fernando’s laser treatments.

“In other words, it’s a scam. If your doctor tells you right after surgery to return for a laser operation because it’s something you don’t predict, it’s something you don’t want,” Department of Health head executive staff Dr. Ma. Dominga Padilla said.

Bonifacio Martinez, who also testified in the hearing, shared how he also underwent a cataract operation at the Borough Medical Care Institute. However, spots later on appeared on his eyes and he eventually ended up blind. He then went to the University of Santo Tomas hospital only to find out that his eyes had fungal infection. He returned to Borough but was only given P10,000 as a form of ‘help’ as there was nothing they could do with his eyes.

Despite of Fernando and Martinez’ failed eye procedures; PhilHealth still fully paid the hospitals and eye institutes which have operated them.

Backstory: Senate continues probe on PhilHealth’s ‘misappropriated funds’

With eye procedures abused by accredited hospitals and clinics, PhilHealth has then made a new guideline that laser treatments should not be done six months after a cataract operation.