Go eyes health care for all

SEN. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said the country needs accessible health care services, responding to a recent OCTA survey that showed health remains the top concern among Filipinos.

“Our people’s health cannot take a backseat. This is not just about combating diseases, but a holistic approach to ensuring every Filipino has access to medical services, adequate nutrition, and a healthy environment,” said the chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography.

OCTA’s Tugon ng Masa, conducted from December 10 to 14, revealed that 71 percent of respondents prioritized staying healthy and avoiding illness, a significant increase from the previous survey.

The survey also highlighted the growing concern about food security, with 50 percent of respondents stressing the importance of having enough to eat daily, a noticeable increase from the previous poll.

This rise in concern is parallel to the reported increase in involuntary hunger, which jumped from 10 percent in October to 14 percent in December last year.

Go said that good health is the key to productivity and that illness affects both the physical and economic well-being of a person.

He added that Filipinos face the exorbitant cost of health care and that for many families, a single illness can obliterate savings.

This could lead to education taking a backseat as children are forced to leave school to work for the family’s survival.

Go was the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act 11463, also known as the “Malasakit Centers Act of 2019.”

Malasakit centers synergize efforts from various government agencies, minimizing health care costs for Filipinos, ensuring that hospital expenses are reduced to the lowest amount, and giving patients and their families a convenient solution to availing medical assistance from the government.