Press Release - "Magtulungan tayo para makapagbigay ng maayos na serbisyong medikal sa ating mga kababayan" - Bong Go continues Senate Hearing into state of public health services

In a crucial public hearing held by the Senate Committee on Health and Demography on Monday, May 20, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, chairperson of the said committee, presided over discussions on various health programs including the efficient implementation of the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan and the execution of Republic Act 11959 or the Regional Specialty Centers Act which he principally sponsored and is one of the authors.

"A budget of around PhP 10 billion was included this year for establishing various specialty centers in DOH hospitals. We want to know the status of its implementation...We also want to ensure that public health facilities we are constructing would be operational. Dapat po'y mapapakinabangan po ito," Go urged.

Discussions also included the proposed establishment of a National Center for Geriatric Health, aligned with RA 11959. "Para ito sa mga matatanda at senior citizens dahil alam naman natin na hindi maiiwasang magkasakit habang tumatanda tayo. Maaaring kailangan ng dedicated hospital para sa kanila," Go proposed.

"We must ensure the right to health of our senior citizens by ensuring that health services are available and accessible to them through establishing a specialized hospital and research institute," he championed.

Additionally, the Committee tackled the bill to increase the bed capacity of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), one of the country's largest modern government tertiary hospitals, serving over 600,000 patients annually. As a national referral center for tertiary care, PGH provides essential services to indigent Filipinos. Senator Go also inquired about the construction of halfway houses within PGH.

Senator Go likewise requested updates on the DOH's Medical Assistance for Indigent Program (MAIP), in line with RA 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act, another law he principally sponsored and authored.

"I heard of reports that the West Visayas State University Medical Center, lumapit po bigla, noong guest speaker po ako dun sa nurses association event, na kulang na po ang pondo nila para sa medical assistance for indigent patients at may iba pa bang mga ospital na kulang pa po?," he asked.

"Diba PhP58