Raffy Tulfo revives proposal to create OFW wing in regional hospitals

Senator Raffy Tulfo has revived the proposal to create an area in regional hospitals that will specifically cater to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their dependents.

Tulfo floated the idea after conducting an inspection at the OFW hospital in Pampanga which he found to be underutilized.

“Ang aking suggestion… mag-create na lang ng tinatawag na OFW wing sa lahat ng mga regional hospital sa iba't-ibang lugar sa Pilipinas. In that way, it will be accessible to everybody. Hindi ‘yung nasa isang lugar lamang tulad d’yan sa Pampanga na napakalayo at maraming hindi nakakaalam,” Tulfo said in an interview on Unang Balita on Friday.

“So ‘pag nagkaroon ng OFW wing sa lahat ng regional hospitals all over the country, then lahat ng OFWs from different parts of the country ay makikinabang pati na rin ang kanilang dependents,” he added.

(My suggestion is to create OFW wings in all regional hospitals across the country. In that way, it will be accessible to everybody and the OFW hospital is not located in one place only like the one that they constructed in Pampanga which is very far. If we establish OFW wings in all regional countries, OFWs from different parts of the country, as well as their dependents, will benefit from it.)

For Tulfo, the OFW Hospital in Pampanga should be managed by the Department of Health which has the expertise in running medical facilities, but the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) should continue exercising its oversight.

“Nakakatawa nga dun sa kanilang paliwanag. Hindi kapani-paniwala sinasabi nila kulang sila sa manpower at bago lang daw ang pag-transfer ng ospital na ‘yon from DOLE to them. In that case, ang sabi ko dapat i-transfer na lang ang pamamahala at pagpapatakbo sa DOH kasi meron silang kakayahan at kaalaman,” Tulfo said.

“Sila na lang sa oversight then sila na lang doon sa screening para malaman kung sino talaga ang qualified na matanggap sa facility na ‘yon,” he added.

(The explanation given to me was unbelievable. They were saying that they lack in manpower and that the hospital was just transferred to them by the DOLE. I suggested transferring the management of the hospital to the DOH because they have the expertise on that then they will be in charge of the oversight and the screening of patients who will be admitted to the facility.)

On Thursday, the DMW said it will strive to improve the facilities and staffing of the OFW Hospital following Tulfo’s surprise inspection.

There are around 200 staff members in the hospital, consisting of 46 doctors, 72 nurses, and other staff, according to Jonathan Andal’s 24 Oras report on Wednesday.

Tulfo said there is lack of patients at the OFW Hospital as its outpatient department is closed on weekends and is only accepting 10 walk-in patients per day.

Others even have to book an online appointment on the hospital’s website for a medical consultation.

DMW Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac said that he is now coordinating with Tulfo’s office regarding his concerns. He said the DMW is also coordinating with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to address the staffing issue.

The OFW Hospital was launched in May 2022 to cater primarily to the healthcare needs of OFWs and qualified dependents.

During the budget deliberations at the Senate in October last year, DMW Secretary Susan Ople said President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has given a directive for the DMW and the DOH to discuss the possibility of having OFW wings in various hospitals. — Hana Bordey/RSJ, GMA Integrated News