Bong Go pushes for building of specialty hospitals, health centers

Senator Bong Go. Contributed photo

MANILA, Philippines — Acknowledging the demand for specialized inpatient and outpatient hospital services, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has reiterated his call to bring quality health services to more rural communities as he pushes for the establishment of specialty hospitals or health centers nationwide.

Go, who chairs the Senate committee on health and demography, pointed out that many Filipinos with health concerns, especially those in far-flung areas, struggle to receive immediate and adequate medical attention given the need to travel to urbanized cities to visit existing specialty hospitals.

“Saksi ako sa nakakalungkot na sitwasyon ng ating mga kababayang may karamdaman sa tuwing nag-iikot ako sa iba’t ibang parte ng ating bansa upang mamahagi ng tulong sa kanila. Sa aking ginagawang pagbisita, hinihikayat ko ang mga maysakit na huwag mag-atubiling lumapit sa aming mga lingkod bayan upang matulungan sila at madala sa mga ospital sa Metro Manila,” he said.

“Batid ko na ang ugat ng problema ay ang kawalan natin ng specialty hospitals, gaya ng Philippine Heart Center, Lung Center of the Philippines, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, at National Kidney and Transplant Institute, sa iba’t ibang panig ng bansa. Ang mga ospital na ito ay ilan sa pinakamagagaling na ospital sa bansa. Ngunit sa kabila nito, napakalayo ng kanilang mga serbisyo sa karaniwang mga Pilipino lalo na sa mga taga-probinsya,” he also stressed.

According to the Department of Health, a specialty hospital is classified as a facility focusing on a particular disease or condition or one type of patient. A specialized hospital is dedicated to treating a certain type of illness requiring various treatments or diseases of a specific organ or group of organs.

The senator then renewed his support for President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s call to establish more specialty hospitals or centers outside Metro Manila. He added that creating these health facilities is one of the optimal solutions to address the gaps in healthcare across the country.

“Sang-ayon at suportado ko po ang Pangulo sa hangarin niyang ito. Alam na natin ang pangangailangan. Ngunit kailangan din nating pag-aralan kung ano nga ba ang pinakamabilis at pinakaepektibong paraan para madala ang mga serbisyo ng mga specialty hospitals na ito sa ating mga kababayan,” Go noted.

“Specialty hospital o specialty center man, sa pagkakaroon ng dagdag na access ng ating mga kababayan sa mga serbisyo ng mga espesyalista, hindi na mahihirapan ang mga Pilipino kahit nasaan man silang sulok ng bansa dahil mas mapapalapit sa kanila ang mga ito. Hindi na nila kailangang lumuwas pa ng Maynila para lamang magpagamot sa puso, baga, o bato. Specialty hospital o specialty center man, ang importante maibaba ang serbisyo ng gobyerno sa tao,” he continued.

The senator likewise urged the government to continue supporting the country’s healthcare system, underscoring the importance of investing in quality health services.

He said a strengthened healthcare system could also significantly help the country’s economic recovery.

“Tandaan natin na nasa yugto tayo ng pag-ahon ng ating ekonomiya—mga nawalang kabuhayan at trabaho—dulot ng pandemya,” he pointed out.

“Kaya ang problemang ito ay hindi lang usapin ng pagkakaroon ng malusog na pangangatawan. Kung magkakasakit tayo, hindi tayo makakapagtrabaho, hindi tayo makakapaghanapbuhay. Hindi natin maikakaila na apektado ang kabuhayan kapag may problema sa kalusugan.”

“Kung walang tulong mula sa gobyerno, lalo na kung pahirapan ang pagkuha nito, apektado ang buong pamilya. Nahihinto ang pag-aaral ng mga bata. Naisasangla o naibebenta ang mga ari-arian, gaya ng bahay, sasakyan, lupang sakahan, at iba pa,” he likewise said.

Go has consistently pushed for establishing more Super Health Centers and Malasakit Centers nationwide, highlighting how these centers have already helped millions of poor Filipinos.

The Malasakit Centers are one-stop shops where patients can conveniently avail of medical assistance programs offered by the government. Go is the principal author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act. There are now 152 such centers nationwide.

Meanwhile, Super Health Centers are medium versions of polyclinics. They are bigger than rural health units, which offer basic services such as outpatient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray, ultrasound), pharmacy, and ambulatory surgical unit, among others.

“Tama nga naman ang sabi nila: health is wealth. Kung mas mapapalakas natin ang ating healthcare system, mas masisiguro rin nating mas malusog ang ating mga mamamayan, mas magiging produktibong bahagi sila ng ating ekonomiya, at mas mapapabuti natin ang kanilang kabuhayan tungo sa iisang hangarin na mas ligtas at maginhawang buhay para sa lahat,” he said.

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