Go wants improved health care for newborns

IN line with his commitment to promote better health care services, Sen. Bong Go sought expanded benefits for newborn babies on Monday in support of the 22nd National Newborn Screening (NBS) Convention in Manila.

The senator, who has been holding regular public hearings to scrutinize various policies of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), called on the state health insurer to include treatment of the 29 metabolic and congenital disorders that may be found among newborn babies.

Presently, PhilHealth covers only the screening process. Go was a guest of honor and speaker at the NBS Convention, an annual event that keeps health professionals updated on the recent developments in this public health program.

The lectures provide additional information on expanded newborn screening and relevant topics for improving program implementation.

This annual convention is spearheaded by the nonprofit organization Newborn Screening Society of the Philippines Inc. Its members are various health professionals dedicated to promoting and advancing newborn screening in the Philippines.

The event, held at the Manila Hotel, attracted 1,100 medical professionals nationwide, including midwives, nurses, doctors, dieticians, medical technologists and chemists.

These attendees received tokens from the senator.

Go, a foremost advocate for improving the country's health care services, has also been pushing for several other legislative measures concerning public health and caused the passage of several health-related laws.