Senator Christopher Go urged the Department of Health (DOH) to pursue the establishment of halfway houses at major medical centers in the country.
Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography said the budget for three halfway houses was included in the 2024 General Appropriations Act.
A halfway house is a type of transitional lodging designed to support individuals and families undergoing medical treatments far from their homes.
Go emphasized the importance of this project, which aligns with his commitment to providing accessible healthcare facilities for Filipinos, especially those who travel to Metro Manila for medical treatments.
The senator further highlighted the challenges faced by families seeking medical treatment in Metro Manila.
The halfway houses, which are part of a broader healthcare support program, are set to be established at the Philippine Heart Center (PHC), the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC), and the Quirino Memorial Medical Center (QMMC), all in Quezon City.
The construction of halfway houses at these medical centers is a response to the critical need for accessible lodging for families, particularly those who travel from far-flung areas to Manila for medical treatments.
The initiative addresses a significant gap in the healthcare system, providing much-needed support and relief to families during their medical journeys.
Each of these selected medical centers specializes in different areas of healthcare, making them key destinations for patients seeking specialized treatments.
The PHC is renowned for its cardiac care, the PCMC for pediatric medical services, and the QMMC for its comprehensive healthcare offerings.
Go said that his initiative of securing funding for the halfway houses demonstrates a deep commitment to providing tangible solutions for Filipino families facing medical challenges.
Meanwhile, as the principal sponsor and one of the authors, Go emphasized the importance of the newly enacted Republic Act No. 11959, a critical measure signed by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. last August. RA 11959 mandates the establishment of Regional Specialty Centers throughout the country to enhance the accessibility of specialized medical services for Filipinos.
Go, in a statement, emphasized the need for the law, stating, “As the principal sponsor and one of the authors of the measure together with no less than Senate President Migz Zubiri, I have long recognized the need to bring specialized medical services to more poor and indigent Filipino patients, most of them living outside Metro Manila where most, if not all, of our national specialty centers are found.”
The law seeks to decentralize the availability of specialized medical services, traditionally concentrated in the capital city, and distribute them to Department of Health (DOH) hospitals in every region.
Highlighting the urgency and the expected benefits of this move, Go remarked, “In doing so, we will be bringing essential specialty medical services closer to our people—particularly the hopeless, helpless, and those who have no one to turn to except the government.”
This initiative is part of a multi-year plan, with the government planning to set up Regional Specialty Centers across various regions within the next five years. While there are already existing specialty centers in select major hospitals across the country, this law aims to ensure that each region has its own specialty centers tailored to meet the specific healthcare needs of its local population.