House approves pre-hospital emergency medical care system

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a measure institutionalizing the pre-hospital emergency medical care system in the country.

Passed was House Bill 4577 authored by Reps. Lani Mercado-Revilla (Cavite) and Susan Yap (Tarlac) that seeks to create “a responsive and organized pre-hospital and emergency care system to address emergency cases brought by natural and man-made calamities.”

La Union Rep. Eufranio Eriguel, chairman of the House committee on health, sponsored and defended the measure in plenary. Co-authors of the measure are Ako Bicol party-list Reps. Christopher Co and Rodel Batocabe.

“The policy of the State is to protect and promote the right to health of the people and shall endeavor to cultivate and maintain an environment conducive to the practice of pre-hospital emergency care, maximizing the capability and potential of emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and other pre-hospital care professionals in the country, and institute a standard system of pre-hospital emergency medical services in the country,” Eriguel said.

Aside from the development and institutionalization of a pre-hospital emergency medical service system at the national and local levels, the measure creates a National Pre-hospital Care Council (NPCC) under the Department of Health.

The measure mandates the NPCC to develop internationally accepted standards for the practice of pre-hospital care professions.

Pre-hospital emergency care is an independent delivery of pre-hospital emergency medical services by appropriately trained and certified EMTs, usually in a mobile or community setting, in full accordance with the national pre-hospital emergency medical treatment protocols established by the NPCC.

The NPCC is mandated to supervise, control and regulate the practice of pre-hospital care professionals.

In coordination with Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Professional Regulation Commission and accredited professional organizations, the NPCC is tasked to prepare, update and maintain a roster of certified EMTs.

The measure provides training programs, courses, and continuing education for EMTs and would be conducted only by the institutions recognized by the TESDA, higher education institutions and CHED.

The measure also mandates the National Telecommunications Commission to develop a program for the adoption of a national emergency telephone number.

The illegal use of the universal emergency telephone number and the unlawful practice of pre-hospital emergency medical service shall be penalized.