Bill creating medical reserve corps filed in Senate

A bill seeking to establish a medical reserve corps to beef up human health resources in the Philippines was filed by Senator Pia Cayetano amid the COVID-19 situation.

Senate Bill No. 1527 seeks to pool medical reservists composed of licensed medical practitioners, medical reservists of the Armed Forces, public health experts, scientists, and non-medical volunteers trained for health emergencies and other services.

The Department of Health (DOH) would organize, train, and develop these reservists, according to the proposed measure. It was also tasked to craft guidelines on compensation and other incentives that would be received by those who would sign up.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the weaknesses of the country’s healthcare system, among them is the inability to cope with the surge of patients needing medical care due to lack of medically-trained personnel," Cayetano said.

"Like a highly-skilled reserve force that has been trained to assist the standing and regular military force as needed, the country can likewise benefit from a similar reserve force for our healthcare system," she added.

The bill states that the DOH may also seek the assistance of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to provide expertise in organizing a paramilitary structure of the medical reserve corps for efficient deployment during disasters and health emergencies.

"All members when called to service shall continue to receive all pay, allowances, and other privileges and benefits from his/her regular employment during the mobilization period," it added.

Members of the medical reserve corps may man quarantine facilities and serve as contact tracers during outbreaks, according to Cayetano.

The DOH said over 2,000 out of the more than 11,000 COVID-19 cases in the country were health workers.  — DVM, GMA News