Go wants improved health care
Senator and Health Committee Chair Christopher “Bong” Go is hopeful that the country’s public health care system will be further strengthened after successfully pushing for more funding for various health initiatives in 2023, particularly for poor and indigent patients.
In a statement, Go lauded President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for signing the 2023 national budget law. He also extended his appreciation to his fellow lawmakers and public servants from concerned departments and agencies who put in long hours on the budget process.
“This budget is very important and critical as we are gradually undertaking our inclusive recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic,” Go said.
“Given these allocations and mandates, it behooves everyone to ensure that no Filipino shall be left behind as we recover from this global health crisis as one united people,” he added.
Among the health programs successfully pushed by Go include additional funding for medical assistance for indigent patients; construction of Super Health Centers and specialty centers; Cancer Assistance Fund; hiring of immunization vaccinators to strengthen our immunization program for other diseases, especially for our children; funding for the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation for expanded free dialysis coverage, mental health outpatient coverage, comprehensive outpatient benefit package including free medical check-up and other improvements in benefit package; and mental health programs.
By helping Filipino cancer patients and their families pay for the cost of cancer treatment and its care-related components, such as the necessary diagnostics and laboratories for the eight types of cancer that have been identified as priorities, the CAF aims to lessen the burden on them.
The Department of Health said that CAF “aims to complement and supplement existing financial support mechanisms for various cancer care and control services that are not yet covered by existing government and private-related efforts.”
Meanwhile, Go vowed to continue pushing for the establishment of more Super Health Centers throughout the country in a bid to improve healthcare access among Filipinos, especially in rural areas.
Super Health Centers are medium versions of polyclinics and are bigger than rural health units, which offer basic services such as database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: X-ray, ultrasound), pharmacy and ambulatory surgical unit.
Other available services are eye, ear, nose and throat service, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation center and telemedicine, where remote diagnosis and treatment of patients will be done.