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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Bong Go files bill establishing specialty hospital for senior citizens

Bong Go files bill establishing specialty hospital for senior citizens

Published Jul 17, 2025 01:25 pm

At A Glance

  • The senator said that while he acknowledges the existence of the Dr. Eva Macaraeg-Macapagal National Center for Geriatric Health (DEMMNCGH), he pointed out limitations in its operations, noting that it is managed by the Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center (JRMMC) and is not a stand-alone facility exclusively dedicated to senior citizens.

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has filed a bill seeking to create a dedicated institution for the care of the country’s growing elderly population.

Go filed Senate Bill No. 411 or the proposed Senior Citizens’ Hospital Act of 2025 at the start of the 20th Congress saying the measure aims to establish the Philippine Senior Citizens Hospital and Research Institute (PSCHRI), a tertiary specialty hospital under the direct supervision of the Department of Health (DOH), that would serve as the national center for geriatric healthcare and research if enacted into law. 

In the explanatory note of his bill, Go underscored the urgent need for specialized care for senior citizens, citing the demographic reality that the elderly population is projected to surpass 14 million by 2030 according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

“Gusto kong pangalagaan ang buhay ng atin mga lolo at lola. Nasa kultura na nating mga Pilipino na alagaan ang ating mga nakakatanda. Dapat natin silang suportahan at bigyan ng pagkilala (I want to protect the lives of our grandparents. It is in our Filipino culture to take care of our elders. We should support them and give them recognition),” said Go.

"Elderly individuals often suffer from chronic illnesses due to their advanced age. Their conditions often manifest in functional decline and cognitive impairments which require long-term care, rehabilitation, and palliative services," Go emphasized.

Go said that while he acknowledges the existence of the Dr. Eva Macaraeg-Macapagal National Center for Geriatric Health (DEMMNCGH), he pointed out limitations in its operations, noting that it is managed by the Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center (JRMMC) and is not a stand-alone facility exclusively dedicated to senior citizens.

“Given this, limitations in the health services offered by the DEMMNCGH exist,” he said.

“This bill seeks to establish a dedicated senior citizens’ hospital to be known as the Philippine Senior Citizens Hospital and Research Institute (PSCHRI) to provide comprehensive, dedicated care for senior citizens, promote geriatric research and training, and serve as a national model for elder care,” he explained.

Under the measure, the PSCHRI will provide specialized care tailored to the unique needs of aging individuals and promote medical research and training in geriatric medicine.

Among the key provisions of the proposed law, the PSCHRI will have its own Medical Center Chief, a licensed physician with at least five years of hospital administration experience, to be appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH).

The hospital will offer affordable, quality, and timely people-centered hospital care for senior citizens and will develop geriatric health services in collaboration with other government agencies, local government units (LGUs), and stakeholders.

Once enacted into law, the proposed hospital will also serve as a center for consultancy and technical assistance in setting standards for geriatric wards nationwide while building capacity in nursing homes, residential care facilities, and senior citizens' wards in hospitals, as mandated by RA No. 9994.

Moreover, the PSCHRI will be tasked to develop and implement research studies on diseases associated with aging, translating findings into policy and healthcare solutions.

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