Dr. Norma Ada, president and owner of Medical Associates of the Pacific, said primary care is the backbone of medicine.
Ada, who was among the speakers during Tuesday’s health conference, said with its small population, the CNMI is not attractive enough for an investor who wants to open a private hospital.
“The [Commonwealth Health Center] is the number one asset for health care in the CNMI but now we can’t depend on it because some of the basic services are being cut due to austerity measures,” Ada said.
Practicing medicine on island is not a picnic, she added.
She said due to the economic crunch, it is a very scary time for employers, senior citizens and the younger population as basic services in the hospital are being cut back.
“There is very little that we can do about it,” she added.
She said the best advice she can give to the people is to “stay well and not to get sick.”
George Cruz, president of Marianas Health Services, said their focus is more on home health care.
Cruz said CHC is facing challenges in promoting a more effective transitional care following the discharge of patients from the hospital.
Cruz said under the health reform care, the implementation of the Elder Justice Act will promote the continuing care of the elderly.
“With the economic downturn, lots of elderly people are being abandoned in their homes but this will soon be addressed,” Cruz said.
Thelma Cabrera, operations manager of Marianas Medical Center, and Natalie Codianne, pharmacist at PHI Pharmacy, said they are expecting a huge increase in Medicaid patients in the next few years.
Codianne said with PHI’s four outlets, they are prepared to meet a rising demand for their services.
