R E D ! [Under Revisions/Editings]

"The Red Dream"

"Someday, I will be the Doctor for the Poor!" I said to myself.

Before the "Cheap Medicines Act/Law" was passed in the Senate, more or less ten years ago, many Filipino died because of POVERTY. Yes, you heard me right, because of poverty. Not until that law was passed when Healthcare became a priority of this sinking country.

If someone suffered a mild heart attack, stroke, or any other emergency cases, the most crucial question asked by the one in charged in the Emergency Room is, "Do you have this kind of amount? We won't let him be admitted if you don't have this certain amount, sir/ma'am. It's hospital policy, we're sorry." (Damn hypocrites!)

I knew a friend of mine who suffered an artery blockage and was rushed into an Emergency Room of one of the finest hospitals in the Philippines. But instead of performing their respected duties as doctors, they said to the family members of the 'almost dying' patient, "We need this *large amount* before we could perform the Angioplasty Surgery for the patient. It is crucial and there's a huge possibility of morbidity if the surgery will not be performed immediately, so I hope you could find that certain *large amount* we needed, before we conduct the said operation." (Damn evil ones!)

Sadly, that poor friend of mine died..
All because his wife and his relatives don't have millions in their wallets. And I put the blame on the feet of those hypocrite doctors who had the chance of saving him, but because of too much concern about the money, my poor friend died without a fight.

For me, its worst than cold-blooded killings. Far worst than homicide or murder. The heartlessness due to too much greediness had turned into morbidity - not only for my friend, but also to many others who are ill and sick, who died.. BECAUSE OF POVERTY.

You saw the dilemma? I do not generalized all doctors in the world, I have met some doctors who are faithful to their duty, but there are also these few many who just use the title doctor, not to save life, but to earn and save money.

Its worst than any disease!
The sacred Hippocratic Oath became a cliché of the hypocritical/hypocrite doctors who value money more than they value lives.

I can't take it.
When I saw Government Hospitals everywhere in the country who lacked doctors.... Who need good, responsible doctors. Doctors who are willing to sacrifice. Doctors who value lives and charity more than the value of money.

I can't take it.
When I saw Health Centers that lacked medicines and can barely helped the sick and ill in marginalized communities because there were no doctors and nurses who were willing to work for Government Hospitals and Health Centers, because the SALARY doesn't even give justice to the degree they've studied and finished.

I can't take it. When I saw dead bodies piling in Mindanao because of a some disease outbreak. Dead bodies of poor young children all piled up on the list of morbid ones, without even having checked by a professional healthcare provider.

I can't take it. When ordinary citizens of my beloved country, doesn't even have enough money to buy maintenance medicines for their illnesses.

I can't take it. When those talented nurses just choose to work abroad because the salary they earned for that specific job cannot even give a decent life for their family. You'll see many Nursing Grads who worked as Call Center Agents because the income was almost triple, sometimes, even four times of the typical salary of nurses in the Philippines.

I can't take it. That to become a doctor was a dream manufactured and made only for the sons and daughters of the elite who have some sort of finances to support a luxurious dream!

Where should we put the blame?
The government?
The doctors?
The nurses?
The sick?

No.. Put the blame on the feet of every people of our country, because we all bore the same guilt!

If only the blind can see,
If only the deaf can hear,
If only the mute can speak..
They will be the eyes, the ears and the voices of the vox populi who were fettered in this dire reality in our country.

On that dark moonless night..
I look upon that dark skies and said ..
"Mama, I want to be a doctor someday"