The proposed measure to institutionalize a tertiary level hospital for all overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their dependents has been refiled by Cagayan de Oro 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez in the current 19th Congress.
Rodriguez, chairman of the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments and a veteran in the lower chamber, filed House Bill (HB) 4195 or the Overseas Filipino Workers Hospital Act for this purpose.
The following are the objectives of the OFW Hospital Act: 1. Provide comprehensive and total health care services to all migrant workers, 2. Conduct medical examinations for all would-be overseas contract workers with approved job orders, 3. Serve as primary referral hospital for repatriated OFWs needing medical assistance, and 4. Monitor conditions of patients and provide data to aid in policy formulation.
The bill also mandates the secretary of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to ensure that existing health benefits and medical assistance programs are strengthened, including subsidies on hospitalization and medical procedures.
The same measure had been filed in previous Congresses but was not acted upon by the Senate or the upper chamber, Rodriguez noted.
The Mindanaoan refiled this bill to ensure as soon as possible the availability, accessibility, and affordability of quality health care for OFWs and their families back home here in the Philippines.