Sen. Bong Go pushed for priority measures aimed at enhancing the public healthcare system and public service delivery, especially following the detection of the first case of monkeypox in the country.
Recently reelected as the head of the Senate Committee on Health, Go filed several health-related measures among his top 20 priority measures in the 19th Congress precisely to help address emerging health threats, such as monkeypox, on top of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“I am pushing for various measures and initiatives that will further strengthen our adaptability and resilience as one nation, particularly in health, infrastructure, food security, economy, better governance, and welfare of our people, among others,” said Go.
The World Health Organization earlier declared the monkeypox outbreak a global health emergency – the highest alert that the WHO can issue after a worldwide upsurge in cases.
The first confirmed case of monkeypox in the Philippines was reported by the Department of Health on July 29.
Among the proposed measures introduced by Go include Senate Bill No. 198 which seeks to provide free annual medical check-ups for all Filipinos and SBN 190 which provides a comprehensive dialysis benefit package for all PhilHealth members.
Go also introduced SBN 421, which establishes the Emergency Medical Services Systems Council to create national standards for the delivery of emergency medical services, including, among others, the development of mandatory national EMS treatment protocols to be followed by EMS personnel and the requirements for skills and competencies for emergency medical services personnel.
The senator also filed SBN 425, which amends the Insurance Code to subject Health Maintenance Organizations to the provisions of the Code that are not explicitly stated under Executive Order No. 192, series of 2015.