Manila Rep. Manuel Luis Lopez has filed a bill mandating a companion for all child patients who are seven-years-old and below in hospital and medical clinics, regardless of medical condition or treatment and whether they are being treated for inpatient or outpatient care.
He said House Bill No. 8002 or the proposed Child Patient Companion Act of 2020 will ensure that no child shall be deprived of his or her right to access to health care services.
“This bill recognizes that the right of the child to access health care services should be complemented with their right to be protected, care for, and loved. While medical professionals focus on providing the best healthcare for child patients, a companion will ensure that the child patient receives comfort, hope, and reassurance in times of fear, uncertainty, and confusion,” Lopez said.
The chairperson of the House Committee on Metro Manila Development said under his bill, for abandoned or neglected child patients, the concerned local social welfare and development office shall assign a duly licensed social worker to act as their companion.
HB No. 8002 provides that in special situation wherein the health and safety of child-patient, companion, and or other patients can be compromised, or in instances where companions are generally not allowed, such as but not limited to operating rooms, Intensive Care Units, nursery areas, and such other similar areas, the hospital or medical clinic may prevent entry of such companion.
“In order to take into account special circumstances of a child patient contracting a notifiable disease or requiring special medical treatment, hospital and medical clinics are likewise required to formulate special rules to accommodate at least one companion for the child patient,” he said.
Violators of the proposed Act shall be penalized with a fine ranging from P10,000 to P1 million. Administrative penalty shall be slapped against government employees as maybe provided in the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the proposed Act.
The Department of Health (DoH), in consultation with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), hospitals, and medical clinics, will formulate the IRR of the proposed Act within six months from its effectivity.