Council backs revival of Manila liaison office

The 8th Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council has adopted a resolution urging government leaders to expedite the establishment of a CNMI/Manila Liaison Office. At the same time, the council also adopted a resolution urging the Legislature to pass a law that would authorize the entry of specialized medical doctors from the Philippines to examine patients at the Commonwealth Health Center for possible medical treatment abroad.

Council members said that they adopted both resolutions inasmuch as the delivery of health care and services for the residents and visitors in the CNMI continues to be a top priority.

Municipal council chair Gregorio V. Deleon Guerrero and secretary Antonia M. Tudela introduced both resolutions after a recent trip to the Philippines.

In Resolution 8SMC-7RS-60, the council said that there are medical services that cannot be rendered by the Commonwealth Health Center, leaving medical referrals to Hawaii or other medical centers in other states as the only alternative.

“Medical facilities in Hawaii or other areas within the United States are very expensive and the need to seek cheaper medical facilities in the Philippines with quality medical services has become a first priority,” the resolution reads.

The council said that a visit to the Makati Medical Center, Asian Hospital and Medical Center and St. Lukes Hospital and Medical Center has shown that these medical facilities “have the professional medical services that we need at lesser cost to the government and the patients. These facilities are equipped with the most modern medical equipment.

“St. Luke’s Hospital and Medical Center has been reported to have done successful open-heart surgery on patients from the CNMI,” the council said.

Council members pointed out that the downsizing of the garment factories, the impending Japan Airlines pullout, the increased cost of fuel, and other factors that have contributed to the downturn in the CNMI’s economy, combined with the high cost of medical treatment in Hawaii and other areas in the United States, have made more crucial and urgent the need to establish a CNMI/Manila Liaison Office.

“The Philippine medical centers not only offer compatible medical services with the U.S. standards but a shorter travel distance of three hours, cheaper airline tickets, hotel accommodations, food and other personal necessities,” the council said.

With the establishment of a CNMI/Manila Liaison Office and negotiations with these Philippine hospitals, the CNMI medical insurance coverage, Medicaid and Medicare could be accepted, they added.

As for cost, the council said that the CNMI/Manila Liaison office could be established with a $250,000 annual budget, which would enable the CNMI government to enter into independent contractual relationship for the recruitment of a liaison officer, a clerk, two medical assistants, rental of office space, four room accommodation for referral patients and escorts, two vans, procurement of products and other essential services and supplies associated with the operation of the office.

“The members of the municipal council feel that the establishment of a CNMI/Manila Liaison Office, coupled with the interest and willingness of the medical professionals in the Philippines to render their medical expertise to the residents in the CNMI, will ensure that CNMI residents will be able to receive quality medical services at lesser cost to them,” the council said.

In Resolution 8SMC-7RS-61, municipal council members said that CHC lacks the most modern medical equipment and specialized medical doctors to perform diagnostic evaluation on CHC patients and make recommendations for further medical examination, evaluation and treatment abroad. Specialized medical doctors from Hawaii and other states within the United States have preformed medical treatment abroad but not on a regular basis.

“The three leading medical centers of Asian Hospital and Medical Center, Makati Hospital and Medical Center, St. Lukes Hospital and Medical Center are properly equipped with the most modern medical equipment and maintain a list of specialized medical doctors on board anxiously and patiently waiting to render their professional expertise to examine and treat patients from CHC,” part of the resolution reads.

They said that the visit of these Philippines specialized medical doctors to the CHC will be a step forward in helping patients at CHC with cardiovascular disease, kidney, gall bladder, diabetes and other illness that could not be taken care of at CHC.

Both resolutions were addressed to Gov. Juan N. Babauta, Senate President Joaquin G. Adriano and members of the Senate, and House Speaker Benigno R. Fitial and members of the House of Representatives.

The resolutions were certified by Deleon Guerrero and vice chairman David A. Indalecio and attested by Tudela.