‘All government hospitals must comply with law on geriatric wards’

MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Loren Legarda urged the Department of Health (DOH) yesterday to ensure that government hospitals nationwide provide a senior citizens’ ward in accordance with Republic Act 9994, the Expanded Senior Citizens’ Act of 2009.

“This geriatric ward shall be for the exclusive use of senior citizens who are in need of hospital confinement by reason of their health conditions,” she said.

Legarda said the Constitution provides that the state has the duty to take care of citizens in their twilight years.

“I am happy to also announce that this new law also entitles indigent senior citizens identified by the DSWD to a monthly stipend amounting to P1,500 to augment their daily subsistence and other medical needs,” she said.

Legarda, principal author of RA 9994, said the DOH should administer free vaccination against the influenza virus and pneumococcal disease for indigent senior citizens.

“Death benefit assistance of a minimum of P2,000 shall also be given to the nearest surviving relative of a deceased senior citizen,” she said.

Legarda said senior citizens shall be granted exemption from the value-added tax on the sale of goods and services from all establishments.

Senior citizens are exempted from admission fees in theaters, cinema houses and concert halls, circuses, carnivals and other similar places of culture, leisure and amusement, she added.

Senior citizens receiving the minimum wage shall be exempted from the payment of individual income taxes, she said.

Legarda said senior citizens also enjoy a 20 percent discount on the following: medicine; professional fees of attending physicians in all private hospitals, medical facilities, and outpatient clinics; professional fees on medical and dental services, diagnostic and laboratory fees in all private hospitals and medical facilities, and outpatient clinics; fares for land transportation, domestic air transport services and sea shipping; and services in hotels and similar lodging establishments, restaurants and recreation centers. –Christina Mendez (The Philippine Star)