GUAGUA, Pampanga – Neurosurgeon Dr. Jose Antonio “Jay” Rivera charges about P120,000 for a major head injury operation.
However, he will not get a single centavo for his services at the head injury unit (HIU) of the provincial hospital here opened on Tuesday by Gov. Lilia “Baby” Pineda.
Rivera joined Pineda and Diosdado Macapagal Memorial Hospital (DMMH) chief Dr. Eddie Ponio in the inauguration of the HIU, the first-ever head trauma center in North and Central Luzon.
“I am truly blessed that’s why I want to share my blessings,” said Rivera, a native of Minalin town. He is one of the two neurosurgeons based in the province and is commissioned to do head injury operations in all the private and public hospitals in Pampanga.
A graduate of the University of the East (UE) medicine school, Rivera said he and other volunteer doctors have decided to give free professional services as an expression of support to the health care program prioritized by Pineda.
In an interview, Pineda said Rivera and other volunteer doctors “are not helping me but the people of Pampanga.”
She said “these professional doctors should be commended for their noble intentions.”
Ponio, for his part, said “Doc Jay (Rivera) is a one-of-a-kind doctor.” He added that “Rivera is in the prime of his career but he gives time for social services.”
Ponio disclosed that Rivera had also convinced other doctors needed in the HIU to give free services.
Dr. Elaine Payumo, an interventional cardiology at the Angeles University Foundation (AUF) and St. Luke’s Medical Center hospitals, is one of the 10 volunteer doctors.
She said her services are required before a neurosurgeon can operate on a head injury.
“No problem with me to give free services at the DMMH,” said Payumo.
Representatives of the Olongapo City-based Helping Hands Healing Hearts Ministries disclosed that the HIU at the DMMH “is one of the hospitals they assist.”
They added that their group helps poor people, especially the children.
The group was responsible for bringing in some of the volunteer doctors at the HIU.
Third District Board Member Monina “Monz” Laus, chairman of the committee on health, said the provincial government plans to provide a computed tomography (CT scan) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) at the HIU of the DMMH.
“It’s a tall order but with a sincere governor and invaluable support of doctors, we can get those hospital equipment in due time,” said Laus in the dialect.
FIRST CASE
In the same event, Ponio also presented to Pineda the first major successful head injury operation at the DMMH last November. He was 62-year-old Lamberto De La Cruz, a native of Barangay Sapang Biabas, Mabalacat.
A carpenter and mason, De La Cruz met a freak accident while doing the carport of her daughter at Xevera Subd., Bacolor town.
Lacking the needed equipment, Rivera and Ponio were faced with a dilemma then if they could operate De La Cruz.
Considering the advice of Rivera after he checked on the injury of De La Cruz, Ponio gave a go signal for the major operations of De La Cruz, who then had a “15 to 20 percent chance of survival.”
“Transferring the victim to the nearby hospital will not be wise then because of the lack of time and the severity of case. The patient, after being checked at a private hospital, needed immediate medical attention. “So much blood was already lost. Besides, I was assured by Doc Jay that he could do the operation at DMMH,” said Ponio.
Rivera, for his part, said De La Cruz’s family could have spent at least P.5 million if the patient was operated in a private hospital.
Gsa De La Cruz, only daughter of Lamberto, said “with the help of everyone, including Gov. Pineda and our relatives, we used at least P200,000 in trying to save the life of my father.”
Ponio said the case of De La Cruz gave them the much needed boost to create the HIU.
“As you can see, the De la Cruz family had spent much already to save their father. What more if there are no HIU at the DMMH and its volunteer doctors and nurses,” said Ponio. “That is precisely why we need the HIU.”
Rivera asked the family to rent the apparatus at nearby PMS hospital to help save Lamberto after his eight-hour operation.
The 42-year-old neurosurgeon, who took up emergency room management at the San Francisco General Hospital in the USA, disclosed that private groups had donated medical kits and medicines to the HIU, allowing them to maximize the services in the unit.
“We also gave up our share from the Philhealth benefits. We will give them to the hospital instead,” said Rivera, who took up neuro-trauma seminar at the Spine center in Singapore.
Rivera said at least eight nurses – Michael Ingal, Ruby Rose Basco, Faydarica Bandoy, Theresa Gay Calingo, Aaron Carl Enriquez, Jovel Lacson, Honeylet Gozum and Camille Gozum – had also volunteered their services. They were also the nurses who took care of Lamberto.
“The nurses will get the training but will serve for at least six months at no expense to the hospital,” Rivera said.
However, he will not get a single centavo for his services at the head injury unit (HIU) of the provincial hospital here opened on Tuesday by Gov. Lilia “Baby” Pineda.
Rivera joined Pineda and Diosdado Macapagal Memorial Hospital (DMMH) chief Dr. Eddie Ponio in the inauguration of the HIU, the first-ever head trauma center in North and Central Luzon.
“I am truly blessed that’s why I want to share my blessings,” said Rivera, a native of Minalin town. He is one of the two neurosurgeons based in the province and is commissioned to do head injury operations in all the private and public hospitals in Pampanga.
A graduate of the University of the East (UE) medicine school, Rivera said he and other volunteer doctors have decided to give free professional services as an expression of support to the health care program prioritized by Pineda.
In an interview, Pineda said Rivera and other volunteer doctors “are not helping me but the people of Pampanga.”
She said “these professional doctors should be commended for their noble intentions.”
Ponio, for his part, said “Doc Jay (Rivera) is a one-of-a-kind doctor.” He added that “Rivera is in the prime of his career but he gives time for social services.”
Ponio disclosed that Rivera had also convinced other doctors needed in the HIU to give free services.
Dr. Elaine Payumo, an interventional cardiology at the Angeles University Foundation (AUF) and St. Luke’s Medical Center hospitals, is one of the 10 volunteer doctors.
She said her services are required before a neurosurgeon can operate on a head injury.
“No problem with me to give free services at the DMMH,” said Payumo.
Representatives of the Olongapo City-based Helping Hands Healing Hearts Ministries disclosed that the HIU at the DMMH “is one of the hospitals they assist.”
They added that their group helps poor people, especially the children.
The group was responsible for bringing in some of the volunteer doctors at the HIU.
Third District Board Member Monina “Monz” Laus, chairman of the committee on health, said the provincial government plans to provide a computed tomography (CT scan) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) at the HIU of the DMMH.
“It’s a tall order but with a sincere governor and invaluable support of doctors, we can get those hospital equipment in due time,” said Laus in the dialect.
FIRST CASE
In the same event, Ponio also presented to Pineda the first major successful head injury operation at the DMMH last November. He was 62-year-old Lamberto De La Cruz, a native of Barangay Sapang Biabas, Mabalacat.
A carpenter and mason, De La Cruz met a freak accident while doing the carport of her daughter at Xevera Subd., Bacolor town.
Lacking the needed equipment, Rivera and Ponio were faced with a dilemma then if they could operate De La Cruz.
Considering the advice of Rivera after he checked on the injury of De La Cruz, Ponio gave a go signal for the major operations of De La Cruz, who then had a “15 to 20 percent chance of survival.”
“Transferring the victim to the nearby hospital will not be wise then because of the lack of time and the severity of case. The patient, after being checked at a private hospital, needed immediate medical attention. “So much blood was already lost. Besides, I was assured by Doc Jay that he could do the operation at DMMH,” said Ponio.
Rivera, for his part, said De La Cruz’s family could have spent at least P.5 million if the patient was operated in a private hospital.
Gsa De La Cruz, only daughter of Lamberto, said “with the help of everyone, including Gov. Pineda and our relatives, we used at least P200,000 in trying to save the life of my father.”
Ponio said the case of De La Cruz gave them the much needed boost to create the HIU.
“As you can see, the De la Cruz family had spent much already to save their father. What more if there are no HIU at the DMMH and its volunteer doctors and nurses,” said Ponio. “That is precisely why we need the HIU.”
Rivera asked the family to rent the apparatus at nearby PMS hospital to help save Lamberto after his eight-hour operation.
The 42-year-old neurosurgeon, who took up emergency room management at the San Francisco General Hospital in the USA, disclosed that private groups had donated medical kits and medicines to the HIU, allowing them to maximize the services in the unit.
“We also gave up our share from the Philhealth benefits. We will give them to the hospital instead,” said Rivera, who took up neuro-trauma seminar at the Spine center in Singapore.
Rivera said at least eight nurses – Michael Ingal, Ruby Rose Basco, Faydarica Bandoy, Theresa Gay Calingo, Aaron Carl Enriquez, Jovel Lacson, Honeylet Gozum and Camille Gozum – had also volunteered their services. They were also the nurses who took care of Lamberto.
“The nurses will get the training but will serve for at least six months at no expense to the hospital,” Rivera said.
