Bong Go proposes establishing super health centers throughout the country to improve the public's access to gov't health services

Senator Christopher "Bong" Go has proposed the establishment of super health centers throughout the country as he seeks to further improve the Filipino people's access to government health services, especially during the pandemic and other similar health crises.

"Layunin po ng mga centers na ito na mas ilapit pa sa ating mga kababayan ang mga serbisyong medikal ng gobyerno, lalo na sa nasa liblib na lugar at pinakanangangailangan ng mga ito," said Go.

"Napakahalagang maisakatuparan natin ito, may pandemya man o wala, dahil hindi naman po nawawala ang pangangailangan ng mga Pilipino pagdating sa aspeto ng kanilang kalusugan," he added.

The super health center is a medium version of a polyclinic and an improved version of the rural health unit. It will have a land area of 514.3 square meters as initially planned.

The proposed centers will have the following services: lab facilities, pharmacy, birthing facilities, out-patient department, dental services, comprehensive PhilHealth out-patient department, and other minor services. The senator also suggests that these super health centers be used for satellite vaccination sites for those Filipinos who live far from the urban centers.

The human resource needs of the super health center will be sourced from rural health units.

The construction and equipping of these centers will be under the Department of Health's Health Facilities Enhancement Program. Funds needed for the establishment of initial super centers is already included in the proposed budget of DOH for next year.

"It is critical to reinforce our current health centers not just to meet health requirements of individuals or families, but also to tackle public health issues and the demands of the community," said Go.

"People in their communities are entitled to the best possible treatment. These centers will be able to meet their healthcare needs, which include the prevention of diseases, provision of treatment, as well as palliative care and health promotion," he added.

Go, who is also chair of the Senate Committee on Health, has been advocating and pushing for measures that would improve the country's healthcare system. He filed Senate Bill No. 2155 which seeks to establish the Virology Science and Technology Institute of the Philippines (VIP) as he calls for a more proactive approach in dealing with future pandemics.

He also filed SBN 2158 which establishes the Philippine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC shall serve as the lead agency for developing communicable disease control and prevention initiatives. It will be primarily responsible for controlling the introduction and spread of infectious diseases in the Philippines.

"These efforts are intended to avoid similar situations where poorer nations are left with fewer medical resources, such as vaccines and other essential drugs, to address pandemics as compared to more developed countries that have early on invested in health sciences and medical research," Go previously stated.

"Katulad ng polisiya ng Administrasyong Duterte na dapat one-step ahead tayo kung mayro'ng paparating na mga kalamidad at sakuna, nais nating mas pagbutihin pa ang hakbang ng gobyerno upang mas magiging ligtas ang buhay at kalusugan ng mga Pilipino mula sa mga banta ng nakakahawang mga sakit," he ended.

In a Senate Committee on Health hearing on Monday, September 6 that Go presided, 25 bills were tackled in the committee level. Among these were the establishment of five hospitals, upgrading of 12 local hospitals, and renationalization of 8 hospitals. The Committee also tackled bills on the regulation of traditional and alternative healthcare system.