Froilan proposes ‘bold’ telemedicine initiative, more dialysis centers

Former governor Froilan C. Tenorio announced yesterday what he described as a bold new telemedicine initiative to bring first-class medical care to the CNMI and reduce the need for off-island referrals. He will also seek funds to establish dialysis centers on Rota and Tinian.

“We can have the best doctors from all over the world help our own physicians diagnose and treat medical problems from a distance,” said the gubernatorial candidate, explaining that the idea is to substitute communications technology for travel. “This will save on medical referrals, keep families together in times of stress and, most of all, provide better health care for our people.”

Telemedicine is particularly cost-effective in isolated areas like the CNMI where there is a shortage of specialists in various fields. It enjoys widespread use in Alaska, for example. It can be used for anything from diagnosing diabetic eye disease to guiding complex surgical operations.

The Democratic candidate also announced that he would seek funds to establish modern dialysis centers for Rota and Tinian. Dialysis is a long-term proposition for most patients, including those with advanced diabetes. “It is unfair and costly to uproot families from the other islands and force them to move to Saipan to be with and care for their loved ones with kidney disease,” said Tenorio.

The telemedicine initiative and dialysis centers are part of a comprehensive health care plan put forth by the former governor. In addition, he plans to aggressively recruit more public and private sector general physicians, specialists, and emergency room doctors to practice in the CNMI utilizing, among other methods, federal programs for underserved areas. He will also permit qualified foreign doctors to practice in the Commonwealth, further increasing the availability of medical care without sacrificing quality.

He said that he would especially encourage an increase in the number of doctors in private practice to give local residents greater freedom of choice in medical care. One way he will do this, he said, will be to ensure that all private physicians are allowed to admit patients to government health facilities, such as CHC.

Tenorio also said he will reform the medical referral system, “which often seems based on whom you know,” rather than medical need. “Everyone will be treated equally in my administration,” declared Tenorio, “and obstacles to needed referrals will be removed.”

Additionally, he will expand the use of quality medical facilities in the Philippines for off-island referrals.

Tenorio also will expand acceptance of Medicare by government health facilities. Now that Medicare has a prescription drug benefits, it should be accepted by government pharmacies in addition to hospitals and clinics.

The former governor will revive the visiting specialists program, under which doctors in various specialties travel from Hawaii and elsewhere to the CNMI on a regular, short-term basis to diagnosed and treat patients. “We had this when I was governor, but it ended when later administrations didn’t pay their bills,” Tenorio noted, “but I will pay our bills and get the program moving again.”

The government health insurance program will be a special target in Tenorio’s next administration. The entire program will be reviewed and revamped to meet the needs of the 21st century. In particular, he wants to see government insurance cover more diagnostic and preventive procedures.