Law on bleeding disorders could save thousands

The bills on the establishment of Hemophilia Treatment Centers (HTCs) all over the country could save thousands of people suffering from bleeding disorders especially those living in far-flung areas, according to Hemophilia Advocates-Philippines.

Two bills mandating the creation of HTCs in hospitals with cancer and hematology departments were recently tackled at the Senate committee on health and demography in a bid to enact a law to prevent unnecessary deaths from bleeding disorders.

Senate Bill 1335 authored by Sen. Joel Villanueva and co-authored by Sen. Nancy Binay, and Senate Bill 1389 authored by Sen. JV Ejercito both entitled Bleeding Disorders Standard of Care Bill, also seek to give free treatment for persons with bleeding disorders such as hemophilia, von Willebrand Disease (VWD) and other inherited bleeding disorders.

Bleeding disorders are a group of medical conditions where the blood does not clot. The World Federation of Hemophilia estimates that around 10,000 Filipinos are affected with hemophilia and about one million others, with von Villebrand Disease (VWD).

Andrea Trinidad-Echavez, president of Hemophilia Advocates-Philippines (HAP), said thousands of patients have long been suffering due to lack of access to treatment.

Her own mother bled to death in 1988 during a biopsy operation because doctors were unaware that bleeding Principal authors of the Bleeding Disorders Standard of Care Bill Senators Joel Villanueva, JV Ejercito and Nancy Binay during the deliberations of Senate Bills 1335 and 1389. disorders could also affect (WFH) based in Canada and women. Echavez inherited the Project SHARE, which is based condition and passed it on to in the United States. her youngest daughter, Star. The Department of Health

She said hemophilia organizations cited post-partum hemorrhage in the Philippines as the No. 2 cause of mainly rely on humanitarian maternal deaths. The Philippines donations from international did not meet the Millennium organizations such as World Development Goal Federation of Hemophilia on maternal health.