Villanueva eyes special hospital for OFWs, dependents
MANILA, Jan. 11 (PNA) -- Sen. Joel Villanueva on Wednesday sought for the creation of a special hospital for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their dependents in the National Capital Region (NCR).
Villanueva filed Senate Bill No. 1282 that seeks the creation a special hospital that will be known as Bagong Bayaning Filipino Hospital (BBFH) that will serve as the primary medical facility for the hospitalization, confinement, medical treatment and medical care of OFWs and their dependents.
He said that the BBFH will be under the supervision and control of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
The bill also mandates regional hospitals to establish an “OFW Ward†as the facility for the hospitalization and medical care of OFWs and their dependents residing outside the NCR. Each ward will have an initial capacity of at least 50 beds.
Also included in his bill is that services of the special hospital for OFWs should complement the existing package of medical and health care services and benefits to migrant workers so as to include preventive, promotive, diagnostic, curative and rehabilitative programs.
Villanueva, in a statement said that despite the growing number of OFWs and the steady stream of remittance flows, social services -- especially health care -- remain out of reach for them and their dependents.
"Other than the expansion of skills training and education benefits and on-site services, the government should also expand its medical assistance program for OFWs who are at risk of diseases and dreaded illnesses while on their job abroad," Villanueva said.
The neophyte senator cited a recent consultation meeting with OFWs in Taiwan, where he learned that four out of ten repatriated OFWs need medical attention or hospital confinement.
He said that many of them suffer from heart disease, stroke, pneumonia, cancer, kidney ailments and other illnesses requiring medical procedures and preventive and longtime care.
However, the existing package of services under the Medical Care Program for OFWs and their dependents is only limited to curative medical services.
"As bagong bayani (modern-day heroes), our OFWs deserve more benefits, especially, access to a complete and quality health care,†Villanueva said.
"We want to recognize all the efforts and sacrifices of our modern-day heroes who have worked hard not only to provide a better living for their families, but also for their contribution to the national economy,†he added.
According to the 2015 Survey on Overseas Filipinos (SOF), overseas workers who worked abroad at any time during the period April 1 to Sept 30, 2015 was estimated at 2.4 million.
The total cash remittances sent by OFWs during this period was estimated at PHP180.3 billion. (PNA)
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