House OKs Free Basic Medicine Assistance Act

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a measure that establishes a free basic medicine assistance program in all government health facilities nationwide.

Passed was House Bill 5955 or the proposed “Free Basic Medicine Assistance Act,” which seeks to ensure that free basic medicine are accessible and available to meet the needs of the poor.

La Union Rep. Eufranio Eriguel, chairman of the House committee on health, said the proposed free basic medicine assistance program in all government district hospitals, local health units and barangay health centers nationwide will ensure the impoverished will have access to health services. 

The measure mandates the implementation of a system of giving free medicine to indigent members of society such as the underprivileged, the sick, the elderly, the disabled and the poorest of the poor.

The bill mandates the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the head of the barangay to identify eligible beneficiaries who shall submit a quarterly report of free basic medicine released to target beneficiaries to the Department of Health (DOH).

1-Sagip party-list Rep. Erlinda Santiago, author of bill, said it is the policy of the State to protect and promote the right to health and well-being of every Filipino and to adopt a system of implementing the delivery of free basic medicine to those who have less in life in all health facilities in the country, giving priority to the underprivileged, ailing, malnourished, elderly, women and children, disabled and the poorest of the poor.

The amount needed for the initial implementation of the program shall be charged against the appropriations for the DOH and shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act thereafter.

The bill directs the DOH, the DSWD and the Philippine Medical Association to promulgate the necessary rules and regulations.

Other authors of the bill are Reps. Isagani Amatong (Zamboanga del Norte); Maria Zenaida Angping (Manila); Sol Aragones (Laguna); Rose Marie Arenas (Pangasinan); Rodel Batocabe (Ako Bicol); Jose Christopher Belmonte (Quezon City); Christopher Co (Ako Bicol); Joaquin Chipeco (Laguna); Scott Davies Lanete (Masbate); Rosenda Ann Ocampo (Manila); Romero Quimbo (Marikina City); Rene Relampagos (Bohol); Maximo Rodriguez, Jr. (ABAMIN), Rufus Rodriguez (Cagayan de Oro City); Estrellita Suansing (Nueva Ecija); Gus Tambunting (Parañaque City); Angelina Tan (Quezon); Jose Tejada (North Cotabato); Czarina Umali (Nueva Ecija); Randolph Ting (Cagayan); Isidro Ungab (Davao City); Linnabelle Ruth Villarica (Bulacan) and Joseph Gilbert Violago (Nueva Ecija).