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Senator Christopher Go (Photo from his office)
MANILA, Philippines – The COVID-19 pandemic, which has caught many countries off guard, should be a lesson for the Philippines to implement policies and systems that better prepare it for any similar medical crises that may arise in the future, Sen Christopher Go, he said Tuesday in his opening statement at a hearing of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, which he chairs.
Organizing a group of doctors, nurses, medical technologists and other health professionals trained for such a crisis would be a step to ensure preparedness, Go said, for which he introduced Senate Bill No. 1451, which proposes to establish a Corps Medical Reserve. .
“Members of the Medical Reserve Corps may be called upon and mobilized to assist the national government and local government units in their functions related to attending to the medical needs of the public in times of national emergencies. Those who are deployed should receive adequate compensation, ”Go said, according to a transcript sent by his office.
In drawing attention to this measure, Go pointed to the difficulties facing the current generation of healthcare professionals who had been battling the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our medical staff is overwhelmed by the number of COVID-19 patients, hampering our ability to fight the disease immediately and effectively. Therefore, we urgently see the need for a Medical Reserve Corps, ”he said.
“The entire nation owes you a debt of gratitude that cannot be paid. Therefore, I hope that they do not tire of helping their compatriots and of lending their experience for the benefit of our country, ”he said.
He noted that Senators Pia Cayetano and Imee Marcos had presented other measures to establish a Reserved Medical Corps.
Another measure that Go thinks would boost the country’s preparedness for medical emergencies is the establishment of an Electronic Health System and Services.
“As the pandemic continues to limit physical interaction and mobility and face-to-face transactions, the use of information and communications technology at this time has become apparent and telemedicine has become an alternative method of provision of health services, ”he said.
Senators Sonny Angara and Bong Revilla, he noted, also introduced similar bills.
“The bills are intended to regulate the practice of telemedicine and e-health and to establish the standards of practice in the provision of e-health services. This will recognize eHealth as equal to other methods of health care delivery, will ensure quality of service and will ensure patient safety and protection, ”he said.
“At this hearing, we welcome input from our agencies, stakeholders, and experts to improve these measures that will help us not only overcome this pandemic, but also better prepare and respond to any other health crisis,” he added .
‘Don’t rush to implement rules’
Go also took the opportunity to warn against rushing the implementation of health protocols – such as less physical distancing in public vehicles – without proper study.
“I call on interested agencies to fully study their proposal to reduce social distancing in public transportation,” he said. “As the last president Rodrigo Duterte reiterated [Monday] night: study carefully before implementing [Study it well before you implement it]. “
“The government must continue to balance efforts to open up the economy while at the same time implementing the necessary health protocols to stop the spread of COVID-19. Every decision we make must be supported by scientific studies and based on recommendations from experts in the field, “he added.
Rushing to a reckless decision that would risk further spread of the virus, he said, would only squander the gains made with the Bayanihan’s help to recover as a single act.
In the case of the reduction of distances in public vehicles, he said that the poor Filipinos would be the ones who would suffer as they would have to risk their health just to go to work.
According to Go, Interior Secretary Año and Secretary Carlito Gálvez, head of implementation of the Inter-Institutional Working Group, said they would discuss the issue again at a meeting on Tuesday.
“I also appeal to the general public for their patience and vigilance, cooperate with authorities, comply with health protocols and continue to show compassion for each other,” Go said.
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