Southfield, Michigan (Via SMART) – News of distribution of free heart pacemakers in the Philippines has been welcomed by medical practitioners, civic and business leaders and local government officials.
Citing mainly its economic benefit on patients and relatives of heart patients, pacemakers that will be distributed by World Medical Relief, Inc. the heart devices would also be a financial relief to families while extending lives of patients.
WMRI was recently chosen as the first ever pacemaker recycling center in the world under the “My Heart, Your Heart” program of Dr. Kim Eagle, director of Cardiovascular Center of University of Michigan. It has received 25,000 pacemakers to date.
Senate President Senior Adviser Abel Manliclic said the medical device that costs a fortune could now be at the reach of needy people.
“The harvested pacemaker will be a big help to the poor who can’t afford the prohibitive cost of brand new one which runs from P600 to P1M. Hopefully these will be given to poor but deserving patients who are productive part of our society,” he said.
In the US, brand new pacemakers cost anywhere from $10,000 to $25,000 dollars.
Eagle said that more than a million heart patients all over the world die each year for lack of pacemakers. The National Cardiovascular Data Registry estimates that from 2010 to 2012, some 63,500 devices were removed annually in the US alone.
Dr. Irineo “Bong” Alvaro, Jr., chairman of Bridges for Benevolent Initiatives Foundation (BBIF) lauded the pacemaker project, citing the officers of WMRI and their partners.
“For a country like the Philippines where there is great number who lives under the poverty threshold, this project is worth a fortune. Sparing three to five hundred thousand or more for a brand new pacemaker is almost an impossibilty to an ordinary Filipino family. Thus, heart ailment is often likened to a death sentence to them,” he said.
“Therefore, WMRI’s project of “My heart, Your heart” (project) shall provide a fresh sunshine of hope for an extension of life to beneficiaries of this noble undertaking. Kudos to Dr. George Samson and all the Board of Directors of WMRI for proving once again that you are truly God-sent “Angels of Mercy”.
Dr. Rey Franco, a leading Filipino cardiologist in the US, cited the pacemakers benefit while at the same time thanked the prime movers of recycling these medical device.
“Pacemaker implantation is for people with heart disease that cause their heart rate to slow down to dangerous level or even stop that may cause death, n is only available to those who can afford it, now with the My Heart Your Heart it is made available to those who cannot to prolong lives. Thanks to Dr. Kim Eagle And WMRI to share this life saving program,” he said.
Franco has volunteered to form and head Cardiac Center of Ospital Ning Angeles on gratis basis. He was tapped by Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan three years ago.
For their part, local government executives said that through charity work, most countries become co-equal regardless of economic status.
“Most countries are so constrained with their own domestic affairs. They’re consumed with thinking about their own future that they fail to see that there are countries who are in need of assistance. That is why we are thankful for the generosity that WMRI has extended to us. Life is so beautiful, it is a gift and God given right to be enjoyed by everyone regardless of social class. This pacemaker program will give the poor but deserving Angeleños a chance to live a meaningful and productive life, Councilor Joseph “PG” Ponce said.
His colleague, Edgardo “Edu” Pamintuan, also son and namesake of Mayor Pamintuan said that: “My Heart Your Heart program would really be a great help for God’s sick poor in the Philippines because not only could it extend their lives, it could also extend the happiness of the suffering families”
“We can’t wait until we officially launch our counterpart program and initiative at our very own Cardiac Center at the government hospital in Angeles City,” he added. (Noel G. Tulabut)