Zubiri: Regional specialty centers now a reality

Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” F. Zubiri (Bibo Nueva España/Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines — “If you build it, they will come. At naniniwala tayo na malaking kaginhawaan ang maidudulot ng mga specialty centers na ito kapag ilalapit natin siya sa ating mga mamamayan na nasa labas ng Metro Manila.”

(And we believe that these specialty centers will bring significant relief when we bring them closer to our citizens outside of Metro Manila.)

Borrowing a line from a famous movie in 1989, Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri said the enactment of the Regional Specialty Centers Act would pave the way for the establishment of “Centers of Hope” that would provide access and convenience to millions of Filipinos outside Metro Manila.

“Kung may Field of Dreams, ito namang mga specialty centers ay Centers of Hope, kasi nagbibigay ito ng pag-asa sa ating mga kababayang may-sakit at walang paraan o nahihirapang lumuwas ng Maynila para lang makakita ng espesyalista para kanilang karamdaman,” Zubiri, principal author and co-sponsor of the measure in the Senate, said.

(If there’s a Field of Dreams, these specialty centers are Centers of Hope, because they provide hope for our fellow citizens who are ill and have no means or face difficulties in traveling to Manila just to consult with specialists for their conditions.)

“Ito ay isa sa mga ipinangako natin noong kampanya, ang paglalagay ng specialty centers sa mga rehiyon para ilapit ang serbisyong medikal sa mga mamamayan, para hindi lang pang-mayaman ang pagpapagamot at hindi lang para sa kayang bumiyahe ang serbisyong ito,” the Senate chief added.

(This is one of the promises we made during the campaign – to establish specialty centers in regions to bring medical services closer to the people, so that healthcare is not only accessible to the wealthy and this service is not limited to those who can afford to travel.)

President Marcos signed Republic Act No. 11959 or the Regional Specialty Centers Act last Thursday along with three other new laws: Republic Act No. 11958 entitled “An Act Rationalizing the Disability Pension of Veterans,” RA 11960 entitled “OTOP Philippines Act,” and RA 11961 or the “An Act Strengthening the Conservation and Protection of Philippine Cultural Heritage …”

READ: Bongbong Marcos approves Regional Specialty Centers Act

Under the new law, specialty centers will be established in regions inside government hospitals under the Department of Health (DOH). It effectively devolves the specialty services of national hospitals such as the Philippine Children’s Medical Center, the Philippine Heart Center, the Lung Center of the Philippines, and the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) to the regions.

Zubiri said the area of specialization will depend on the needs of the people in a particular region based on an assessment by the DOH and in accordance with specific guidelines.

“Ang idea ay ilapit ang Heart Center, Kidney Institute, Lung Center at Children’s Medical Center sa mga mamamayan sa Luzon, Visayas at Mindanao. Dahil sa totoo lang, malaking gastos ang biyahe at tutuluyan mo kung hindi ka taga-Maynila,” the Senate President said.

(The idea is to bring the Heart Center, Kidney Institute, Lung Center, and Children’s Medical Center closer to the people in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Because, to be honest, traveling and staying in Manila entails significant expenses if you’re not from there.)

“Imagine, may dinaramdam ka sa puso at nakatira sa isang maliit na bayan sa Camarines Sur o sa Ilocos Norte pero gusto mong magpatingin sa Heart Center. Isang bus lang pa-maynila sa totoo lang, pero kung hindi ka man mahirapan sa pamasahe, paano ang gastos mo doon? Pano ang titirhan mo kung magtatagal ka?” Zubiri noted.

(Imagine having a heart condition while living in a small town in Camarines Sur or Ilocos Norte, but you want to seek consultation at the Heart Center. It’s just a single bus ride to Manila, but aside from the transportation challenges, what about the expenses? Where will you stay if your visit takes time?)

The Senate leader said this is the “evil” that this new law addresses – the injustice of being denied special medical care just because of economic and geographical limitations.

Under the measure, Zubiri continued, national specialty centers are mandated to serve as hubs for core information on their respective specializations, as well as provide training and technical assistance to regional specialty centers.

They are also tasked to lead in the research and development of policies, protocols, and standards for specialty services under their respective fields of specialties.

“I firmly believe this has a direct benefit to everyone in the provinces, especially those who are too poor or too sick to travel to Metro Manila to get specialized medical care,” Zubiri noted.