Wanted: Efficient healthcare system for show people

The hackneyed “health is wealth” is more than a maxim especially at this time of poor healthcare system in and outside show business.

Waiting in vain for an effective implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) is like waiting for a slow one’s death.

True, there are PhilHealth programs which show biz denizens are also entitled to its benefits but they are pittance compared to the soaring prices of medicines, doctors’ fees, hospitalization etc.

Actors or not, healthcare must be given to them to prolong life and to create more productive living in the field of entertainment arts.

But it seems, we, in the film, television, theater and other multimedia industries are not enjoying the fullness of medical attention which rightfully belongs to each and every Filipino citizen, especially the poor ones.

How many times do we say and complain “mahirap magkasakit ngayon (it’s difficult to get sick these days)”?

One glaring example is the current state of health of veteran performance actor Dante Rivero.

Dante has been in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the East Avenue Medical Center but it took so long for him to move to a regular room or even a charity ward because there’s no vacant slot as the hospital is already overcrowded.

He has to wait for days to avail a room.

Sad.

Of course, Movie Workers Welfare Foundation (Mowelfund) can help or some generous souls can share their financial help.

But a quick response and a swift rescue is needed like immediately coming from, say, pockets of patients, the most logical, customary act one could unleash.

At this point, we don’t know his financial capacity but why is he languishing at the expensive ICU when he is reportedly medically sound to be released from a critical treatment unit?

As is, Rivero has to wait for available room when he deserves to have a special treatment because he is a national treasure as an actor.

Dante deserves a deluxe or exclusive suite.

I could fight for this.

He is no ordinary person because he is an artist who has done a lot in spreading liberating ideas and insightful thoughts to the public to better one’s life through his films like Pepe Diokno’s “Gomburza” etc., TV shows and other screen and live appearances.

Let it be known that artists are sources of inspirations of a nation aspiring for justice, freedom, prosperity and the likes so we have to take care of them.

That differentiates them from the ordinary, average persons who just live passively or reactionarily in this society without lifting a finger to criticize wrongdoings, especially of leaders of various fields.

Another set of show people who are deficient of health concerns are the hapless members of the movie press who are self-employed, not enjoying employment tenures and worst, not earning keeps anymore because they are already unpaid writers who bank on dole-outs and “tokens” of appreciation.

I am always reminded of the earnestness of movie reporter Mell T. Navarro who has been convincing me to look for patrons of the working movie press who could offer health insurance to us.

“Nangangamatay na ang mga kasamahan natin, si (Our colleagues are dying like) Danny Vibas, Pablo Tariman, Jobert Sucaldito etc. na walang (without health) support,” Navarro ranted.

The TEAM, The Entertainment Arts and Media, an aggrupation of movie writers, had just inked a collaboration with UNTV through its honcho, Daniel Razon, for its members’ medical assistance.

The creation of Philippine Entertainment Journalists is linking with the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) for reliable healthcare services as one of its projects.

We can only say, “hope springs eternal.”