House panel OKs bill establishing medical reserve corps

House of Representatives. INQUIRER file photo / Niño Jesus Orbeta

MANILA, Philippines — The House committee on health on Tuesday approved a bill seeking to establish the medical reserve corps.

The panel approved the still unnumbered substitute measure to 11 House bills seeking to create the medical reserve corps and provide for the development, administration, organization, training, maintenance and utilization of the corps.

The measure seeks to “ensure the delivery of health services to Filipinos by bolstering the existing health workforce and support the emergency response efforts in the country.”

The bill emphasizes the need for a reserve force of part-time, highly-skilled medically-trained professionals and volunteers who can be mobilized to maintain surge capacity of the country’s health care system and provide assistance in times of health care crisis.

“The bill mirrors the paramilitary organization of medical reserve in order to mimic the rapid deployment or mobilization of medical volunteers,” panel chair Rep. Helen Tan said during the hearing in presenting the substitute bill.

Volunteers will include licensed physicians including retired doctors or those who are no longer practicing in the hospital setting; medical students and registered nurses; and licensed allied health professionals.

The bill ensures that volunteers are protected by existing labor laws and standards and other relevant occupations, safety; environmental, and social legislation.

They shall likewise receive pay and allowances, medical care, hospitalization and other privileges and benefits during their mobilization.

The bill also requires the volunteers to reimburse the government of any expenses the government has shouldered for the training and allowances of the volunteers.

JPV