House body OKs creation of medical center for elderly

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives Committee on Health has approved proposals to create the National Center for Geriatric Health, which shall provide a full range of healthcare services to the elderly.

Committee chairman La Union Rep. Eufranio Eriguel, directed the committee secretariat to consolidate the approved measures --House Bill 2834 nd HB 2357 filed by Manila Rep. Rosenda Ann Ocampo.

Eriguel said he hopes the proposal will be enacted into law during the 16th Congress.

Representatives from the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Philippine Medical Association, Philippine College of Geriatric Medicine, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation and senior citizens expressed their support for the proposal during the committee hearing.

"The NCGH shall focus on the medical needs of senior citizens and older persons, and shall be the first of its kind in the Philippines. It will ensure the social, psychological and biological aspects of aging members of the population, as well as improve research and studies on the diseases of older persons. This facility will enable senior citizens and older persons who are most vulnerable to diseases to avail of much needed specialized health care," Eriguel said.

He added the proposal encourages the active involvement of the private sector and other members of the public sector to help in the fulfillment of this mission.

The proposed NCGH, a government-owned-and–controlled corporation shall be established for the primary benefit of senior citizens or older persons.

It shall provide the following services: Hospital-based services with its wards divided into dementia, long-term care, palliative care, respite care and other units as may be deemed necessary; Community-based integrated geriatric health services and training for the social functioning of senior citizens and their families, utilizing the multi-disciplinary team approaches;  and education programs.

The NCGH be located in San Miguel, Manila and shall have a bed capacity of at least 50.

The NCGH shall be administered by a Board of Trustees with the DOH Secretary as chairperson and DSWD Secretary as vice-chairperson. Eriguel proposed that the NCGH shall be headed by a Chief Executive Officer who shall be appointed by the DOH Secretary.

The NCGH shall be exempt from all income and other internal revenue taxes, tariff and customs duties and all other kinds of taxes, fees, charges, and assessments levied by the government and its political subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities.

It may request and received assistance from the different agencies, bureaus, offices or instrumentalities of the government, including the PCSO and the PAGCOR.

For the initial operation and maintenance of the NCGH, an appropriation of P250 million has been proposed.