Libreng medical and dental services sa mahihirap na bata

IPINUPURSIGE ni Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada na ma­bigyan ng benepisyong libreng medical and dental assistance sa mga ospital ang mahihirap na bata kabilang ang mga street children. Sa kanyang Senate Bill 2034 (Indigent Children Free Medical and Dental Service Act), iginiit ni Jinggoy ang nakasaad sa Konstitusyon na “The State shall defend the right of the children to assistance inclu-ding proper care and nutrition and special protection from all forms of neglect and abuse, cruel­ty, exploitation, and other conditions prejudicial to their development.”

Ito aniya ay lalo pang pinatibay ng Presidential Decree (PD) 603 (Child and Youth Welfare Code, as amended, on the Rights of the Child), kung saan ay sinasabing “Every child has the right to a balanced diet, adequate clothing, sufficient shelter, proper medical attention, and all basic physical requirements of a healthy and vigorous life.”

Pero sa kabila aniya ng mga deklarasyong ito ay laganap pa rin ang mga insidente kung saan ay ilang ospital ang tumatangging asikasuhin ang mahihirap na bata kahit sa mga pagkakataong “immediate and urgent” ang pangangailangang malapatan sila ng kagyat at dag­liang lunas. Kadalasan aniyang inaalam muna ng ilang ospital kung ang naturang bata o sinumang kasama nito ay mayroong pang-“deposito” at kakayahang magbayad ng kabuuang magiging gastusin sa pagamutan. Giit ni Jinggoy, “We should put an end to such practice by providing for a law that would require both private and public hospitals and clinics to render free medical and dental services to indigent children, and penalizing those who will violate such requirement.”

Itinatakda ng panukala ang: 1) Indigent children are those below 18 years old of age who have no visible means of support or whose parents or guardians have no means of providing for their immediate medical and dental needs; 2) All hospitals, medical centers/clinics and dental clinics and other related institutions are hereby mandated to provide free medical/dental treatment to indigent children.