Senator Risa Hontiveros is now pushing for a measure seeking to create the Philippine Geriatric Center, “one-stop” dedicated public hospital that would provide free medical services to the country’s growing number of senior citizens in the country.
Hontiveros said that as the country faces a surge in COVID-19 cases, it is necessary for the government to create a national referral hospital for senior citizens with major health concerns, especially those from poor and near-poor families.
The senator said passage of the bill she filed—Senate Bill No. 2086—is urgent as cases of COVID-19 continues to increase and can prove to be “fatal for many more seniors.” “If we have a (Philippine) Heart Center and Lung Center, we can also establish a Philippine Geriatric Center that would provide our grandfathers and grandmothers who would contract COVID-19 and other diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer access to free medical services,” Hontiveros said in a statement.
“We need to take care of the health needs of our elderly citizens who are having a difficult time during this pandemic. They are the most vulnerable sector and should be given top priority,” she stressed.
The measure primarily aims to transform and upgrade the existing National Center for Geriatric Health in Manila into the Philippine Geriatric Center.
The Philippine Geriatric Center would then be classified as a “tertiary specialty hospital” that would provide quality medical services to the elderly, including prevention, diagnosis, treatment, care and rehabilitation.
Under the bill, the medical expenses of senior citizens in the new Philippine Geriatric Center will be subsidized and covered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).
Hontiveros stressed the Philippines badly needs a well-equipped and dedicated health facility for the country’s growing population of senior citizens since they are more vulnerable to infectious diseases.
“Our health system must be prepared to take care of a larger number of senior citizens. The Commission on Population and Development itself reported that as of 2021, we now have more than 10 million senior citizens in the country,” she said.
“In less than five years, we will transition to an aging population, and we must be ready to support them, “ she further said.
The measure also mandates an initial public funding of P100-million to help start the Philippine Geriatric Center’s operations.
Local government units (LGUs) would also be required to start a unified coordination system with the new hospital so senior citizens from all over the country can avail of the hospital’s services.
“It is important that we give back to our senior citizens by subsidizing and giving importance to their health needs,” Hontiveros emphasized.