Santiago wants more state support for seriously ill patients

MANILA, Philippines - Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago filed a bill seeking greater state support for patients with serious diseases.

Santiago introduced Senate Bill 2284, which calls for the establishment of a stakeholder strategic summit, quality of life education, awareness initiative, health care workforce training, an advisory committee and palliative care-focused research.

”People living with a serious illness experience inadequately treated symptoms, fragmented care, poor communication with their doctors and enormous strains on their family caregivers,” Santiago, who is battling lung cancer said.

She added that to improve the lives of patients and their families, there should be public outreach and education on pain and symptom management of chronic diseases.

Palliative care is focused on the relief of the pain, stress, and other debilitating symptoms of serious illness, such as cancer; heart, renal, and liver failure; lung disease; and Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, she said.

The proposed measure mandates the secretary of the Department of Health to convene the strategic stakeholder summit one year after the effectivity of the law to analyze key health system barriers and identify strategic solutions.