Better preparedness for health crises pushed

SEN. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go underscored the importance of the public health sector’s preparedness to handle future health crises.

During a visit at the Quirino Memorial Medical Center (QMMC) in Quezon City on Wednesday, Go hailed the Duterte administration’s continuing efforts to reinforce the country’s health care system.

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography witnessed the turnover of financial assistance from the Office of the President of P100 million each to the QMMC, Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC), Philippine Heart Center (PHC) and Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City; Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital (DJFMH) and Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center (JRRMMC) in Manila; Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Sanitarium (DJNRMHS) in Caloocan City; and Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center (ARMMC) in Marikina City.

The VMMC received an additional P100 million for the acquisition of new medical equipment.

In a speech delivered during his visit, Go highlighted the challenges confronting public hospitals, such as the lack of infrastructure and adequate manpower.

“Wala pang pandemya, bumibisita na ako sa mga ospital at nakikita kong may naghahating mga pasyente sa iisang kama. Paano sila gagaling, lalo na ngayong may pandemya, kung ganyan ang sitwasyon? should invest more sa ating system. Huwag tayong mag-antay ng susunod na pandemya. Dapat pro-active at laging handa tayo (Even before the pandemic, I regularly visited hospitals where I witnessed patients sharing one bed. How are they going to get well, especially now that there is a pandemic, with that situation? We should invest more in our healthcare system. Let us not wait for another pandemic. We have to be proactive and always ready),” he said.

Go has sponsored 39 local hospital bills so far, including measures to upgrade the capabilities, expand the bed capacities and establish new hospitals in various provinces.

In 2020, he sponsored the bill that became Republic Act (RA) 11501, which increased the bed capacity of the QMMC from 500 to 1,000.

He also recognized the need to boost support for health workers who are risking their lives to contain the pandemic.

He earlier pushed for the passage of SB 2421, providing a fixed monthly Covid-19 Risk Allowance to frontliners assigned in health facilities during the state of emergency. The Senate approved the bill on third and final reading last January.

Go also pushed for the allocation of P51 billion in the 2022 national budget for the compensation of Covid-19 health workers.

Last Monday, Go was at the East Avenue Medical Center for the turnover of P635-million worth of financial assistance from the Office of the President to several hospitals.