Focused on strengthening country’s healthcare system

CITING how the COVID-19 pandemic served as an eye-opener on how challenging it is for low-income Filipinos to obtain even the basic preventive healthcare, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, who heads the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, filed his Senate Bill otherwise known as the “Free Annual Medical Check-Up Bill” on Monday, July 4.

Under the proposed measure, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) shall establish and implement a Free Annual Medical Check-Up program which will allow all Filipinos, by virtue of their membership with PhilHealth mandated under Republic Act No. 11223 or the Universal Health Care Law, to undergo screening, laboratory and diagnostic tests, and consultation free of charge.

The said bill shall also require PhilHealth to implement a comprehensive outpatient benefit package. PhilHealth shall identify laboratory and diagnostic tests to be included in the Free Annual Medical Check-Up program based on current and emerging health necessities of Filipinos.

“Dahil kulang sa pera, maraming mga kababayan natin ang takot magpatingin sa doktor. Imbes na ibayad sa pagpakonsulta, ibili na lang nila ng pagkain. Kaya ang simpleng high blood pressure, minsan ay lumala pa at nahulog sa cardiovascular disease, kidney damage, atbp. Dahil mas seryoso ang sakit, mas magastos,” Go expressed.

“Sa ngayon ay kulang pa talaga ang ating resources pagdating sa ating healthcare. Noong unang pumasok ang kaso ng COVID-19 sa bansa at nagsimula ang mabilisang pagkalat nito, lalo po natin nakita kung gaano kahalaga ang pagpapalakas ng ating healthcare system,” cited Go.

The senator then noted that regular check-ups can help determine potential health concerns before they get worse, adding that early detection can give the best chance of getting treatments and avoiding further complications.

“Palagi po natin unahin ang ating kalusugan. Tayo pong nasa gobyerno, dapat po palagi tayong one-step ahead para sa ating mga kababayan. Huwag po natin hayaan na mapuno na naman po ang ating mga hospitals. Mas mainam na agapan natin agad ang ating nararamdaman,” stressed Go.

“Kaya naman, I’m urging my fellow lawmakers to extend their support sa pagpapasa ng free annual check-up. Sa panahon ngayon, preventive health care is essential kaya napakalaking bagay na po nito para sa ating Pilipino. Ayaw nating umabot sa punto na lumala ‘yung sakit,” he underscored.

As part of his priority bills, several health measures were likewise filed by Go, including those that will provide a Comprehensive Dialysis Benefit Package to all of PhilHealth members, compensation and incentives for Barangay Health Workers (BHWs), and the establishment of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and Virology Science and Technology Institute of the Philippines.

The senator was also instrumental in the passage of several bills that focus on improving and strengthening access of Filipinos to quality healthcare. Among those measures he had early on successfully pushed is Republic Act No. 11463, otherwise known as the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which he principally authored and sponsored in the Senate.

“Itong Malasakit Center ay isang one-stop shop kung saan tutulungan ng apat na ahensya, ang DSWD, DOH, PhilHealth, PCSO, ang ating mga kababayang mga mahihirap, yung mga poor and indigent patients, na bawasan ang inyong billing hanggang maging zero balance na po ito,” Go explained.

“Isinulong ko po agad yan pagkapasok ko po sa Senado dahil naniniwala ako na kinakailangan po talaga ng mahihirap ang malalapitan lalo na po kung sila ay may nararamdaman. Kaya mga kababayan ko, huwag po kayong mahihiyang lumapit sa Malasakit Center sa inyong lugar kung kayo po ay may nararamdaman,” he urged.

There are now 151 Malasakit Centers nationwide that have assisted over three million Filipinos.