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Ni JAM NAVALES
NAGPAHAYAG ng pagkabahala si House Committee on Health Vice-Chairperson at AnaKalusugan party-list Rep. Ray Reyes sa ulat ng World Health Organization (WHO) na nagsasabing halos 800 million katao sa bahagi ng Western Pacific region, kung saan kabilang ang Pilipinas, ang walang kaukulang access sa basic health services.
Pagbibigay-diin ni Reyes, hindi dapat balewalain at kailangang tumugon ang pamahalaan sa WHO report na ito lalo’t kapakanan ng mamamayan ang nakasalalay.
“We should take this report seriously. As much as we celebrate the gains of our Universal Healthcare Law (UHC), we should also take note of how we can further enhance our health services to the public,” giit ni Reyes.
Dagdag pa ng AnaKalusugan party-list solon, sinabi ng WHO na dalawa sa limang katao sa rehiyon ang hindi nakakakuha ng kahit isa man lamang na essential health service gaya ng bakuna, pregnancy at newborn care, gayon din ang gamutan para sa communicable at noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).
Paalala ni Reyes, pangunahing tungkulin ng pamahalaan na masiguro na magkaroon ng access o makapagbigay ng sapat na serbisyong medikal sa publiko.
“Marami pa po ang hindi naaabot ng ating health services lalo na sa mga kanayunan. The report only reinforces our call to include Free Annual Check Ups in UHC,” sabi pa ranking House official.
“In doing so we could take great strides in disease prevention, as Filipinos would be encouraged to seek medical advice regularly, reassured that this would not lessen their resources for other equally important expenses such as food and education,” dagdag niya.
Una nang iminungkahi ni Reyes sa Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) sa gagawing pag-amyenda sa UHC Law ang probisyon para sa pagkakaloob ng free medical checkups sa mga Pilipino.
Naihain na rin ni Reyes House Bill (HB) No. 430 na nagsusulong na nasabing programa kung saan ang ipinapanukala niya ay an g free annual check-ups na kinabibilang, subalit hindi limitado lamang, sa blood sugar at cholesterol tests.
“Once our free Annual Medical Check Up Bill is embodied in the amendments to the UHC Law, it will help institutionalize programs like the Philhealth’s Konsulta Program and provide better care to Filipinos,” ayon pa kay Reyes.
