Capiz public hospital to acquire veteran's ward
Roxas City -- The blessing of a veteran's ward at the Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital (RMPH) here has been set on December 5 in time with this year's Sinadya sa Halaran celebration from Dec. 5 to 8.
The blessing of RMPH veteran's ward is in view of a need for a stronger government healthcare program for the elderly.
Specifically, it is in line with the improvement of the services, facilities, systems and procedures in the management of provincial government-operated hospitals under the health development agenda of the provincial government.
The adjacent Provincial Health Office's (PHO) storage building will also be inaugurated in time with the RMPH veteran's ward blessing.
Recently, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo moved for the strengthening of the country's healthcare program for elderly persons through legislation, institutionalization and exchange of knowledge and experiences on increasing the life expectancy of Filipinos.
The President said the legislation she is thinking of is one that will "put more money in the hands of the older persons for medicine, for medical care and provide some form of pension for more of them."
Noting that there is an apparent lack of trained health professionals in the field of Geriatrics and Gerontology, the President also saw the need to expand the institutionalization of geriatric care in the country to improve the government's healthcare program for elderly persons.
The President also asked the Philippine Society of Geriatric Medicine to help her administration draft the right legislation that would bring improved long term care for senior citizens.
"In my State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) last July, I expressed the conviction that we must invest in strengthening social safety nets including access to healthcare…In that same SONA, I asked Congress to pass a legislation that brings improved long term care for our senior citizens," she said. (PIA)