Are we running out of hospitals, too?

It seems that the health care crisis continues to be a problem in the Philippines. We have been running out of health manpower as nurses and doctors go abroad. It seems that we have another thing to be afraid of - the Philippines is also running out of hospitals!.

The Philippine Medical Association (PMA), based on a survey, reported that the number of hospitals, both private and public, in the country has dropped by 55 percent in the last 20 years - from a total of 2,000 in 1987 to only 890 at present.

Further, the new government policy that prevents private hospitals from "detaining" patients until they settle their hospitalization bills will worsen the situation. It may lead to bankruptcy of more hospitals which may lead to a more deteriorating health care system.