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Street kids should get free dental, medical care--Jinggoy

Philippines | National

Street kids should get free dental, medical care--Jinggoy

By Seth Cabanban

All of the health institutions in the country should offer free medical and dental services to indigent children and children living on the streets, Senator Jinggoy Estrada said.

Despite the Anti-Hospital Deposit Law that forbids healthcare institutions from demanding advance payment for carrying out emergency care, Estrada says that some hospitals still charge emergency patients.

“We should put an end to such practice by providing a law that would require both private and public hospitals and clinics to render free medical and dental services to indigent children and penalize those who will violate such requirement,” Estrada said on Tuesday, Oct. 18.

The senator previously filed Senate Bill (SB) 1107 or the “Indigent Children Free Medical and Dental Service Act”, which directs the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Health (DOH) to implement his proposal.

The measure defines indigent children as those under the age of 18 who have no visible means of support or those whose parents or guardians lack the means to provide their medical and dental needs.

These children are made eligible for free medical and dental services under the bill.

“Only through a concrete legislative measure can we fully realize the principles and policies sought to be affected by the various laws protecting the rights of the child,” he ended.

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