With the outburst of the infamous Coronavirus 2019, several members of the Health Committee endorsed their plans of forming a medical reserve corps. By having one, we will be able to increase the capable health personnel of our country; we can ensure the safety and the overall skill of the health personnel in the country especially in these dire times.
Just yesterday, the House of Representatives made the approval for the National Medical Reserve Corps bill. Otherwise known as the House Bill No. 7331; it basically means that our country will be very much prepared and readied in case incidents like this happen. This was also what Angelina Tan, Quezon Representative and Health Committee Chair said. She even added the fact that in times like this, medical reservists would be very much needed.
Medical reservists are needed in times like this when we are going through a COVID-19 pandemic. They are also needed in case of disasters."
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Hospitals Short of Medical Staff
She even said that there are a ton of hospitals in Metro Manila that are short of medical staff; meaning, the National Medical Reserve Corps bill would be very much efficient and effective in our time today. Being one of the principal authors of the bill, Tan said that a ton of our healthcare workers are drained physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Apart from Tan, other authors of the bill include Deputy Speaker Luis Raymund Villafuerte of the Camarines Sur region as well as several representatives; they are: Alfred Vargas of Quezon City, Horacio Suansing of Sultan Kudarat, Joy Myra Tambunting of Parañaque, Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro City, David Suarez of Quezon, Estrellita Suansing of Nueva Ecija, and Paul Daza of Northern Samar.
With a Medical Reserve Corps in place, they will get the chance and the opportunity to rest; they can take a break from all the stress that they have taken.
Many of our healthcare workers are exhausted physically, mentally and emotionally. They have to take a rest. This is one of the reasons why they called for a timeout three weeks ago. If we have a reserve force, they could temporarily take the place of tired health workers who have to take a break from toxic and risky work."
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In case you're interested to know, Tan is a physician by profession. She is currently in the ranks to be a lawmaker and she is in full understanding and comprehension of what's happening in our country because of the infamous virus.
Our "weak" Healthcare System
She gave the notion that because of the virus, our country exposed the weakness and the inconsistencies of our healthcare system. Moreover, she said that there are several factors to this which include, but are not limited to:
- The slowness of our country to respond;
- Inability to cope with the influx of patients;
- The lack of medically-trained and educated personnel; and
- Many more
Details About the National Medical Reserve Corps Bill
But what really does the National Medical Reserve Corps Bill entail? What is it exactly? To give more information about it, we have to understand that its goal is to make sure that our country is well-equipped with the right plans to make sure that our healthcare system stays intact.
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The bill details that when it becomes signified; the Department of Health (DOH) will be required to organize and fix up the medical network and preparedness that we have. More so, the bill indicates the fact that our medical reserve must consist of the most capable people including Medicine Graduates, Medical Students, Retired Medical Experts, People who Completed Four (4) Years of Medical Course, Licensed Allied Health Professionals, Registered Nurses, Licensed Physicians, and the like.
Recruitment Guidelines
In case you show interest to it; the DOH said that they will be creating the guidelines and the policies for recruitment, continuing and compulsive training, incentives and compensation, as well as the Corps members length of service.
For it to continue on to the Senate; they would be required to create their own version of the measure. They would need to approve it in their chamber and that would make it effective. In case you don't remember; the Medical Reserve Corps is one of the plans of our dearest President Rodrigo Duterte; he even approved of its institution in his fifth (5th) State of the Nation Address (SONA).
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What do you think of the proposal of the National Medical Reserve Corps bill? Furthermore, do you think that it will help out in the battle that we have against the COVID-19 as well as the other pandemics and incidents of the like?
Source/s: The Philippine Daily Inquirer | The Philippine Star
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