DOH plans to put up special ward for OFWs in public hospitals

Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial (sitting second from left) and ACT-OFW Rep. Aniceto Bertiz III (sitting on the center) lead the signing of a memorandum of agreement that will protect the welfare of OFWs, which includes the establishment of a special ward for OFWs in public hospitals. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

More public hospitals expressed desire to establish a special hospital ward intended for the country’s modern-day heroes—the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).

ACTS-OFW Partylist Rep. Aniceto Bertiz III, one of the proponents of the OFWs ward, said that among those areas that expressed interest for the establishment of the OFWs wing include Lanao del Norte, Cotabato and Makati City.

“Most of the hospitals are willing to have a dedicated wing or ward for OFWs,” said Bertiz.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) is planning to put up special ward for 70 public hospitals before the year ends.

This was confirmed by Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial after a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the establishment of OFWs ward was formally signed.

Ubial said the DOH would mandate all of its hospitals to have their own OFWs ward.

“Having a special ward for OFWs is a way of giving importance to our modern heroes,” said Ubial.

The first OFWs ward will be pilot-tested in Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital, a Level III tertiary, teaching and training hospital with 500 authorized beds in San Fernando, Pampanga.

“Why the pilot of OFWs ward is in Region 3? As we all know, there are a lot of OFWs from that region,” Bertiz pointed out.

Bertiz added the OFWs wing will be dedicated to provide treatment and service to OFWs who are heading abroad or in need of medical treatment.

“The wing will be exclusive for OFWs especially those who will undergo pre-employment medical examination,” said Bertiz.

OFWs who require hemodialysis and chemotherapy and treatment for other serious diseases, Bertiz added, can also receive those free as allotted in the tertiary hospital’s P578.44 million budget for 2018. Marilyn Montaño of Radyo Inquirer / JPV