Gibo plans to overhaul health-care system in RP

ADMINISTRATION party’s standard-bearer, Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro, has said that overhauling the health-care system of the country could help stop the migration of medical professionals to other countries.

A “universal participative program” according to Teodoro, can help stem the continuing migration of doctors and nurses for greener pastures abroad and this is one of the programs being eyed by the ruling party.

Under the contemplated health-care reform plan, everyone who can afford it can contribute a nominal amount to a participative system.

“There’s more for everybody, not merely in terms of buying medicine and providing care but for providing reimbursements for doctors and nurses, so there’s an incentive to stay [in the country] and participate in the system.” Teodoro explained.

If ever he became president, Teodoro said he will push for a legislation envisioned to create “a feasible universal participative health-care system.”

He also said that stemming the country’s “brain drain” would include a simultaneous reform program in the education sector to raise its competitive standards.

Among the reform proposals being contemplated include improving primary and secondary education and incorporating a third language in the curricula besides Tagalong and English.

At the heart of the education reform plan is a revolving student-loan program of around P5 billion to ensure that those who want to go to college can take a loan payable when the student is already employed.

“Every student who wants to study would get an SSS/GSIS [Social Security System/Government Service Insurance System] number along with the loan. When the student graduates and is eventually employed, then loan payments is deducted as pay,” he said.

Teodoro said the plan “will give scholarships to those who really deserve it because of high aptitude and promote those subjects that are not too popular but needed by the country like international relations, public policy and planning.”  –Jefferson Antiporda, Manila Times