Senator Sonny Angara stressed the necessity to improve the country’s ability to meet the healthcare needs of the Filipino elderly.
Speaking at the 6th Annual Convention of the Philippine Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Angara said the country is facing a serious shortage of geriatricians or medical doctors who are specially trained to evaluate and manage the healthcare needs and treatment of older people.
The veteran legislator cited data from the Retirement and Healthcare Coalition which showed that there are only 140 geriatric doctors for the 8 million senior citizens in the country.
“There are only 140 geriatric doctors for the 8 million senior citizens in the country.”
“I learned that out of the 140 geriatric doctors, about half of them do not have actual clinic or hospital experience. And one of the main reasons for the lack of geriatricians is the lack of facilities where doctors can train for this particular specialty. We need more venues where our geriatricians can hone their craft,” the veteran lawmaker said.
“Out of the 140 geriatric doctors, about half of them do not have actual clinic or hospital experience. We need more venues where our geriatricians can hone their craft.”
The senator has filed Senate Bill 1157 that seeks to establish a medical scholarship program to address the shortage of doctors in the country.
He added that while the state-run National Center for Geriatric Health in Manila was inaugurated in 2010 supposedly to serve as the country’s first center for aged care, its capability is limited and that is has yet to be institutionalized by Congress.
Angara said that as a legislator, he “remains attentive and responsive to the needs of seniors” by pushing for legislation that would promote their welfare such as the Expanded Senior Citizens Act, which grants VAT exemption on medicines and medical supplies, medical services, and professional fees of doctors.
“Masasabi ko na minana ko ang adbokasiya para sa mga senior citizen mula sa aking ama. He is responsible for the Senior Citizens Act of 1992 that granted discounts to our seniors,” he stated.
“How we treat our elders is an indication of how we treat our most vulnerable. Tungkulin natin na alagaan at suportahan sila upang masiguro na sila ay may buhay na maginhawa,” Angara added.
He is now pushing for the passage of the Expanded Social Pension bill, which seeks to not only double the amount, but also widen the scope to cover those without any form of pension.
He also sponsored the Universal Health Care (UHC) bill. While all senior citizens are already covered by Philhealth, the proposed UHC will be more comprehensive to include preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative health services.
