Poor, weary woman travels far and waits long hours for medical check-up

After leaving her home in Kalayaan around 3:30 a.m, Tina was, at 05:43 a.m., Filipino time, approaching Manila on a long distance bus.

She was on her way to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) for pathology tests and consultation with a hematologist following up after a diagnosis of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a splenectomy to counteract the malady, and a subsequent provisional diagnosis of possible fungal meningitis.

We exchanged text messages.

Tina had barely sufficient funds to pay fares and not enough for food, laboratory tests or prescriptions.

By 07:19 a.m. (Filipino time, GMT+8), I had remitted 4,600 pesos via the Money Gram service of the UAE Exchange corporation. This was likely to be barely sufficient to cover the medical and travel costs.

By 07:23 Tina was at the main gate of the hospital and in a position to encash the remittance at a bank or Cebuana Luhillier pawnshop nearby.

After that she needed to submit rapidly to blood tests, pay for them, and then register immediately for a place in the long queue to see the hematologist.

At 02:43 p.m. (GMT+8) I texted a request for an update on Tina's situation. She was still waiting in the Hematology Department for the female medical specialist (Doktora) who would examine her. The medical staff had held an emergency meeting in the morning so check-ups had only started after lunch. Tina was # 26 in the waiting list.

Tina anticipated that her check-up might not be finished until 6 p.m.

If all went well Tina was unlikely to arrive home again until around 10:30 p.m., but on this day I did not hear from her again.

Details of our exchanges are shown below.

Bern (07:41:51 GMT+10): Good morning Tina. Perhaps you're in traffic? I'm ready to leave home now for the city. Traveling by car and river ferry will take me at least an hour. Bern.

Tina (07:43:47): Gud morning Bern, I'm now in d bus, on d way to Manila Bern, thanks for your understanding Bern, take care always.

Bern (07:45:22): OK, I'll leave immediately. Expect to hear from me about an hour from now, or a little later.

Tina (07:46:35): OK, take care always, thanks a lot.

Bern (09:19:36 GMT+10):Tina, I've sent you 4600 pesos 12 centavos via Money Gram 20692971. This is precious. Do not ask for more.

Tina (07:23:20 GMT+8): Thank you very much Bern, I'm now in d gate of PGH, thanks for your understanding, I know d value of your money, I will spend it wisely, thanks again.

Bern (16:33:17 GMT+10): Hi Tina. If you're free and have sufficient load I'd appreciate an update on your situation now.

Tina (16:37:29): Bern, I'm still waiting for d Doktora in [the] Hema[tology] Dept. Coz they have [an] emergency meeting this morning, d check-up[s] only start[ed] after lunch. I'm # 26 in d list.

Bern (16:38:49): Oh, so much waiting! I assume the emergency meeting was not about you! It appears to me that Philippine medical services generally are in crisis.

Tina (16:39:25): I will text you after my check up, maybe it will finish [at] 6 p.m.

Tina (16:43:20): It's not me, maybe it was in general problem in hospital.

The life you can save

Peter Singer: The Life You Can Save - Late Night Live - 4 February 2009

“Imagine you are on your way to work when you pass a pond where you see a young child drowning. There is no one else around but you are wearing new shoes which will be ruined if you wade in to save him, and the rescue will make you late for work. What should you do?

We don't hesitate to answer 'save the child!', but Peter Singer argues that when it comes to the plight of millions in the developing world we are all letting the child die. His new book is a call to action for individual responsibility in ending world poverty.”