Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Wednesday vowed to allocate funds for specialty centers that would be established in regional hospitals to bring medical services closer to the people, especially the poor.
He made the commitment days after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act (RA) 11959, or the Regional Specialty Centers Act.
Romualdez expressed doubt on whether the proposed P5.768-trillion national budget for 2024 includes funds for the centers since the outlay was prepared months before the President signed the law.
“In any case, we in the House will ensure that the necessary initial appropriations are allocated for the implementation of the law and the setting up, equipping and staffing of the special medical care units in regional hospitals,” Romualdez, leader of the 311-strong House of Representatives, said.
Romualdez said he would ask the committee on appropriations to see to it that such funds are incorporated in the proposed 2024 national budget.
The committee is now in the process of scrutinizing the budget proposal.
Romualdez, along with Rep. Ray T Reyes of Anakalusugan Party-list lauded President Marcos for signing the Congress-approved bill on the establishment of regional specialty medical centers.
Reyes, vice chair of the House committee on health, thanked President Marcos and his fellow legislators for prioritizing the bill’s passage. “Maraming salamat po sa ating pangulo at sa ating mga kapwa mambababatas sa inyong pagtugon sa pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan,” he added.
Reyes is one of the co-authors of House Bill 7751 which was consolidated with Senate Bill No. 2212 to form the current version of the law. “Anakalusugan has always pushed for the creation of specialty centers in the provinces to unburden our kababayans from unnecessary travel and other expenses and this a big step in our goal of ensuring accessible and affordable healthcare services for all,” the lawmaker said.
Under the law, the Department of Health (DOH) is designated to establish specialty centers prioritizing cancer care, cardiovascular care, lung care, renal care and kidney transplant, brain and spine care, trauma care and burn care.
The specialty centers shall also prioritize orthopedic care, physical rehabilitation medicine, infectious disease and tropical medicine, toxicology, mental health, geriatric care, neonatal care, dermatology, eye care, and ear, nose, and throat care.
“It is the government’s duty to bring these specialty centers closer to our people and through the signing of this law we can reassure our kababayans that wherever they are in the Philippines, they can have access to specialized care,” Reyes added.
“Once these special care facilities are established, people in the provinces, in rural areas, no longer need to travel to Metro Manila to receive specialized treatment and care. They will be spending less for
transportation and other related costs. We are bringing the centers closer to our people,” Romualdez meanwhile said.
At present, he said specialty hospitals – Heart Center, Kidney Center, Lung Center, Children’s Medical Center, and Orthopedic Hospital – are all located in Metro Manila.
He said the specialized regional units would have the necessary equipment and staff to care for the sick coming from remote communities.
“We will also allocate medical assistance funds for them,” he added.