Previous Story
CHC, Fitial ink accord with Japanese hospitals
|
Posted on Aug 01 2008
Officials from two Japanese hospitals traveled to Saipan Friday morning to sign an agreement with Gov. Benigno R. Fitial to offer their hospitals’ services to CNMI patients.
The agreements between the Commonwealth Health Center and Nagoya City University Hospital and Aichi Children’s Health and Medical Center will have an initial term for one year, with the partnerships renewed automatically each year following unless noted.
The CHC developed the partnerships with the hospitals because there were concerns patients with severe cases were not receiving specialized treatment in a timely manner, Public Health Secretary Kevin Villagomez said.
With recent airline cutbacks, patients were forced to go through Guam to travel to many major hospitals. To fly to Honolulu, where the closest U.S. hospital is located, it took seven to eight hours, Villagomez said.
“That’s very taxing to the body,” he added.
There are daily flights from Saipan to Nagoya, Villagomez said, which also makes it easier for family members to visit patients.
According to the agreement, the Nagoya City University Hospital and Aichi Hospital will follow U.S. laws and regulations, as well as privacy laws and confidentiality agreements, as much as possible.
One of the drawbacks with using Japanese hospitals is insurance. Japan does not recognize the same medical insurance, Villagomez said, so the government must front the payment in order for the patient to receive treatment. Monetary details are then worked out with patients and insurance companies, which, Villagomez said, “can be tedious at best.” Because the hospitals are going out of their way to offer the services, it’s important they are paid “within a timely basis,” Villagomez said. “We can not have them waiting around.”
Three babies have been sent to Aichi Children’s Health and Medical Center in the past two years, and a fourth will probably be going soon, he said.
No patients have been sent to Nagoya City University Hospital yet, Villagomez said.
“Hopefully, we will never have to send a patient,” he added.
