The Manila Times
MANILA, Philippines — A measure that seeks to expand dental health services has been filed at the House of Representatives. "With this proposal, we will ensure that dental services are affordable, accessible, and not a privilege but a right, especially for children, the pregnant, and senior citizens," Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez said in a statement on Sunday. He authored the bill with Tingog Representatives Yedda Marie Romualdez, Andrew Julian Romualdez, and Jude Acidre. The bill seeks to establish a National Oral Health Program which shall, among others, "integrate oral health promotion" in the implementation of the Universal Health Care Act, the Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act, and "health programs such as nutrition, maternal and child health, women's health and safe motherhood, adolescent, youth and elderly, tobacco and drug abuse, water and sanitation, among others." The bill states that the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation "shall expand its benefit packages for oral health services in both adults and children." Also, the measure aims to create under the Department of Health an Oral Health Service, which "shall take overall responsibility for policy development, standard setting, coordination, and integration of all oral health activities." The bill requires all provinces, cities, towns, and barangay (villages) to implement their respective oral health programs. Local government units shall ensure the delivery of quality, affordable, accessible, and available oral health services in their respective health facilities.
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