Hospital for public school teachers pushed

MANILA, Philippines - Two lawmakers have proposed the establishment of a hospital for public school teachers.

Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and his brother Maximo, who represents the party-list group Abante Mindanao, filed House Bill 2446, which seeks to establish the Philippine Teachers’ Hospital in Metro Manila.

The bill appropriates an initial P300 million for the proposed hospital.

“Teachers are indeed our unsung heroes. Despite the difficulties that continue to confront their profession, they remain loyal to their responsibility in molding the values and character of the young generation,” Rufus said.

He said their suggestion jibes with the state policy calling for the adoption of an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development, which shall endeavor to make essential health and other social services available to all people at affordable cost.

“Teachers are being constantly called upon by officials of the local and national government to assist in various extra-curricular and civic activities, which contribute to the welfare of the community and the country, most notable of which is guarding the precincts and counting their votes during election period,” he said.

The lawmaker said public school teachers have to handle classes of as much as 35 pupils in the elementary level and 39 students in the secondary level.

“Due to the complexities of their job, our teachers are exposed to health risks. Most common ailments teachers suffer from are clearly work-related such as pharyngitis, hypertension, anemia and hyperacidity, among others,” he added.

The proposed Philippine Teachers’ Hospital Act seeks to provide comprehensive health care services to all teachers and their dependents and complement the existing package of services under the National Health Insurance Program.

It also ensures the physical and mental capability of all teacher applicants through the conduct of medical examination.

The measure will require all regional hospitals in the country to have a teachers’ ward, with an initial capacity of at least 50 beds, which will provide hospitalization and medical care to teachers and their dependents residing outside the National Capital Region.

The Philippine Teachers’ Hospital will be administered by a board of directors led by the education secretary as ex-officio chairman, health secretary as ex-officio vice chairman and the chairman of the Commission on Higher Education and secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development as ex-officio members.