DOH urged to give more funds to hospitals in tourist areas
A LAWMAKER is calling on the Department of Health (DOH) to allocate additional funds for hospitals in tourist areas.
“Our goal should be to enhance the overall tourist experience in our country, and one of our priorities should be increased investment in safety, health, and social services,” AnaKalusugan Party-list Representative Ray T. Reyes said.
Reyes noted that despite the growing number of local and foreign tourists in the country, most of the tourist areas lack a complete medical facility.
“All of us have encountered stories where a tourist caught in a medical emergency would have to be transported outside of a tourist area just to get proper medical attention,” he said.
“If we want to further boost our tourism initiatives, it is imperative that we put more investment in our healthcare system,” he added.
Reyes said he made this observation, especially during the Holy Week rush when AnaKalusugan Party-list set up first aid stations to help weary travelers.
In the province of Bulacan alone, in several locations in the municipality of Santa Maria and the city of San Jose del Monte, Reyes said they were able to assist more than 3,000 people by giving emergency care and providing snacks and water.
Aside from providing medical assistance during Holy Week, he said his group will continue to promote health and safety during this summer season.
“Medical services should be accessible, and we will continue to push for legislation that would allocate more funds to bring health services closer to the people and communities,” he added.
