SENATOR Chistopher “Bong” Go has made clear his firm commitment to continue promoting the health and well-being of Filipinos as most of the priority measures he filed in the 19th Congress involve upgrading the public health system and improving access to healthcare services.

“Kung inyong mapapansin, karamihan sa mga panukalang batas na isinumite ko ay may kinalaman sa pagpapalakas sa ating healthcare system. Napakahalaga sa akin ng kalusugan ng bawat Pilipino. Kaya marami sa mga prayoridad na panukalang batas na aking agad na inihain ay sa aspetong ito nakatutok,” said Go, who is set to continue his role as the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography.

“Nasaksihan ko nang pumutok ang pandemya kung paano nagsisiksikan ang mga pasyente sa ospital na hanggang sa mga pasilyo ay may ginagamot. Nahirapan din ang ating mga medical frontliners dahil kulang sa kagamitan. Kailangang mapalawak ang kaalaman ng ating mga nurses, at mapataas ang kanilang sahod. Importante ring magtayo tayo ng research institute para sa mga bagong sumusulpot na sakit para maagap din tayo sa pagkontina nito,” he stressed.

The senator filed bills providing free annual medical check-ups for all Filipinos and a comprehensive dialysis benefit package for all PhilHealth members.

“Isa sa mga isinumite kong panukalang batas ang ‘Annual Medical Check Up Bill’ na kung maisasabatas, ang PhilHealth ang sasagot sa gastos para sa libreng medical check-up ng lahat ng Pilipino taun-taon. Walang babayaran ni sentimo dahil magiging bahagi ito ng Comprehensive Outpatient Benefits Program. Kasama sa medical check-up ang screening, physical examination, laboratory tests at konsultasyon,” explained Go.

“Dahil masyadong mahal ang magpa-dialysis, ipinanukala ko ang ‘Comprehensive Dialysis Benefit Package’ para sa libreng dialysis ng lahat ng miyembro ng PhilHealth. Inaatasan din nito ang PhilHealth na maging mahigpit sa pag-aanalisa ng mga claims na may kinalaman sa dialysis,” he added.

Go likewise introduced a measure creating the Emergency Medical Services Systems Council to develop national standards for the provision of emergency medical services to include, among others, the skills and competencies required for emergency medical services (EMS) personnel and the development of mandatory national EMS treatment protocols to be observed by EMS personnel. The National Telecommunications Commission and the Council shall also develop a program for the adoption of a nationwide emergency hotline number.

To prevent doubts on whether the Insurance Code will apply to Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), the senator also filed a bill amending the Insurance Code to make HMOs subject to the provisions of the Code that are not explicitly provided under Executive Order No. 192, series of 2015. This will allow stricter supervision over HMOs and thus provide more protection to the public.

Meanwhile, to promote the welfare of the country’s healthcare workers, Go once again filed his Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) Compensation and Incentives Bill, which will entitle BHWs to a monthly honorarium of PhP3,000, other allowances, benefits and privileges, and security of tenure. Under the refiled measure, the total number of BHWs per barangay shall not be less than two, nor more than 1% of the barangay’s total population.

The senator also reintroduced his Advanced Nursing Education Bill to provide a basic program for nursing education which shall equip nursing students with the necessary competencies for entry-level safe and quality nursing practice. In addition, there shall be a graduate program for nursing education which shall be a post baccalaureate nursing program, which builds on the experiences and skills of a nurse towards mastery, expertise, and leadership in practice, research and education.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. had likewise recognized the caliber of Filipino nurses during his inaugural speech, saying, “Our nurses are the best in the world. They acquitted themselves with the highest distinction abroad, having suffered even the highest casualties. They are out there because we cannot pay them for the same risk and workload that we have back here.”

Finally, Go refiled his bills establishing the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Virology Science and Technology Institute of the Philippines (VIP). Said measures particularly coincide with President Marcos, Jr.’s commitment to not let the country be “caught unprepared, under-equipped, and understaffed to fight the next pandemic.”

“Patuloy ang pag-usbong ng mga bagong nakakahawang sakit, gaya ng COVID-19, kaya ipinanukala ko ang pagkakaroon ng CDC na siyang magiging pangunahing ahensya sa pag-aaral at pagkontina sa mga nakahahawang sakit,” noted Go.

“Isinumite ko rin ang panukala para sa pagtatayo ng VIP na magkakaroon ng mahalagang papel para sa pag-aaral at pagde-develop ng mga gamot at posibleng bakuna laban sa sakit para hindi na tayo aasa pa sa ibang bansa,” he added.

Also serving as the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health in the 18th Congress, Go had earlier principally authored and sponsored the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019 and principally sponsored 69 local hospital laws, improving the quality of services in more public health facilities across the country.