Re-electionist Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito has vowed to pursue the passage of a measure that would establish a specialty hospital in every region in the country.
Similar to the ones located in Metro Manila, Ejercito said he would file a bill seeking the establishment of these specialty hospitals to ensure that even those in the provinces can have access to special health care.
Ejercito said a Philippine Heart Center, Lung Center of the Philippines, and National Kidney and Transplant Institute should also be constructed in every region.
“Hindi lang po basta ospital ang gusto ko at pangarap sa bawat bayan sa buong bansa. Ang gusto ko po ay magkaroon din ng specialty hospital sa bawat rehiyon tulad ng Philippine Heart Center, Lung Center, at National Kidney and Transplant Institute na dito lang sa Metro Manila mayroon,” Ejercito said.
Ejercito, principal sponsor of the Universal Health Care law, said the construction of regional specialty hospitals would be convenient to patients who are in far-flung areas.
The senator said making these specialty hospitals available in the regions would spare patients and their families of huge expenses and relieve them as well of inconveniences involved in traveling from the provinces where they live to seek medication or check-ups in these Metro Manila-based hospitals.
“Hindi na sila luluwas pa sa Manila para magpagamot sa Philippine Heart Center, Lung Center, o NKTI. Kung bawat region ay mayroon nito, marami ang makikinabang,” Ejercito said.
Aside from the UHC, Ejercito has been pushing for other health care laws, including the Mental Health Act, Philippine HIV/AIDS Policy Act, and National Integrated Cancer Control Act. (Hannah Torregoza)