House passes bill putting OFW Hospital under DMV’s control

OFW Hospital in San Fernando, Pampanga (Photo from the Presidential Communications Office)

MANILA, Philippines — A proposal making the Department of Migrant Workers (DMV) in charge of a hospital has been approved by the House of Representatives on the third and final reading.

During Monday’s plenary session, 252 lawmakers voted in favor of House Bill (HB) No. 8325, or the Overseas Filipino Workers Hospital Act.

None of the lawmakers present voted against it or abstained from the proceeding.

If the bill is enacted, the existing OFW Hospital in San Fernando, Pampanga, will be directly under DMW’s control.

The facility will be mandated to provide healthcare to Filipinos working abroad and their families.

The measure stated, “it shall cater primarily to the healthcare needs of OFWs and their qualified dependents, subject to the limitations under existing laws, rules, and regulations.”

It will also attend to regular patients.

“Nothing herein shall prevent the OFWH from accommodating patients other than OFWs or their qualified dependents,” the bill stated.

Department of Health (DOH) is tasked to provide help to DMW for the operation of the hospital.

“The DOH shall support the OFWH through the provision of technical assistance, extending capital outlay, and monitoring of the hospital’s compliance with standards to deliver quality healthcare,” the bill pointed out.

OFW Hospital has been operating since late 2022.

This newly-built structure is currently under the supervision of the Department of Health.

The medical center was featured in a Philippine Daily Inquirer story in October 2022.

The article reported some nurses in the hospital were turning into OFWs themselves because of higher pay abroad.

READ: Nurses for OFW Hospital end up becoming OFWs

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