NCSC wants database on health profiles, skill sets of the elderly

The National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) on Thursday said it is pushing for an integrated database of health profiles, and skill sets of senior citizens so that the government and other agencies could better respond to their needs.

Interviewed at the Laging Handa briefing, NCSC chairperson Atty. Franklin Quijano said the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of RA 11350 or the law creating the NCSC has already been signed by the national government and published at the Official Gazette on October 4.

"Kaming mga senior citizen, minsan kami lang ang nakakaalam sa sarili naming health profiles, kung ano ang mga hinaing namin. Only us would know and the family perhaps. But if you have a large database, then even the Department of Health would be able to know sino ang dapat bigyan ng maintenance medicine and all," Quijano said.

(Sometimes, we senior citizens are the only ones who know our own health profiles, what our concerns are, and only us would know and our families perhaps. But if you have a large database, even the Department of Health would be able to know who should be given maintenance medicine and all.)

He said the database of health profiles of senior citizens will be shared not only to the national government but also to the different senior citizen organizations, associations, and financial institutions.

The skill sets of senior citizens will also be made available in the database.

"The senior citizens are resolved in helping the country's vitality. We want to help in the turnaround of the economy," Quijano said.

Also, the NCSC chair said almost four million senior citizens have been already vaccinated against COVID-19, adding that the vaccination turnout of senior citizens was high in Metro Manila.

The country celebrates the 2021 Elderly Filipino Week from October 1 to 7. —LBG, GMA News