Monday, February 17, 2O2'O
Bill mandates
setting up
0f EMSS
nationwide
S the country continues to bat-
tle the threat of the 2019 novel
coronavirus disease (COvlD-1 9).
a lawmaker has filed a bill institution-
alizing emergency medical services
syttem (EMSS).
ln House Eill 5788, House Deputy
Majority Leader and Las PiRas City Rep,
CamilleVillarsaid EMSSwould constitute
the comprehensive policy framework
governing the provision of emergency
medicine {EM) in each of the country's
- emeigency number, such as the 911
local government units (LGU5).
Villar, citing the 2013 Asian ConfeF
ence on Emergency Medicine, said the
Philippines only 6as 3,300 recognized
Emergency Medical service (EMS) per
sonnel, saying out of a reported 1,795
hospitals in the country only 200 (or 11
percent) may be considered "emergen-
cy hospitals"-that is, facilities that are
capableof providing quality EM care.
"Emergency medicine is a specialized
discipline in the medicalfield focused on
givingtimelyandcoordinated health and
safety services to victim s ofsudden illness
orinjurrpriortothem reaching hospitals,
health centers or other brick-and-mortar
health-care facilities,"Villar said.
Villar added that creating more facili-
tie5would providequalityEM againstthe
deadly virus.
o
h\c*-4?"
'There's still so much we don't know
about COVID-l9 as far as treatment is
concerned, But having a strong EMsS in
the background can help save lives and
ease the public's paranoia on thi5 new
virus. As with any viral infection, the first
few hgursisalways importantandthis bill
ensures that we have the infrastructure
to respond to it/'said Villar.
The billmandatesthe creation of the
NationalEMSS Advisory Committee, to be
cochaired by the Department of Health
and the Department ofthe lnteriorand
Local Government.
The committee will be tasked to es-
tablish a nationwide EMS network.
lhe National Telecommunications
Commission (NTC) i5 al59 called on to
develop a workinq system for a national
emergency hot line rolled out underthe
Duterte administration.
Under the proposat, local govern-
ment unitg shall create their own Dis-
patch Centers with adequate and quali-
fied personnel. The Dispatch Centers
shall follow the prescribed guidelines
on dispatch protocol,
It said all LGUs shall establish their
respective Command Centers with des-
ignated qualified EMS medica I director.
Command Centers shall govern the
EMS systems based on the prescribed
operational guidelines. The Command
Center can be colocated with the
Di5patch Center.
The measure also ensures the avail-
ability of emergency transport vehicle
orambulancewith qualifiedEMS person-
nel. lowe llarie N. oela Ouz