ISINUSULONG ni Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada ang Senate Bill 1628 (Comprehensive Tuberculosis Elimination Act).
Aniya, ang Tuberculosis (TB) ay nananatiling isa sa mga itinuturing na most infectious causes of death for adults sa buong mundo. Ayon sa World Health Organization (WHO), sa bawat 15 segundo ay isang tao ang namamatay dahil sa TB. Bawat taon naman umano ay umaabot sa 8,000,000 katao ang nagkakasakit ng TB sa buong daigdig.
Base naman sa datos ng Department of Health (DOH), hindi bababa sa 150,000 Pilipino ang may sakit na TB sa iba’t ibang antas.
Kaugnay nito ay iginit ni Jinggoy ang pagpapaigting ng mga hakbangin upang masugpo ang TB.
Alinsunod sa kaniyang panukala:
The DOH shall:
in consultation with appropriate public and private entities, develop and implement a national plan to eliminate tuberculosis;
directly or through grants to public or non-profit private entities, carry out research, demonstration projects, public information and education programs, and education, training and clinical skills improvement activities for health professionals;
encourage faculty of schools of medicine, nursing or osteopathic medicine to intensify their information and education programs, including the development of curricula, to significantly increase the opportunities for students and for practicing providers to learn the principles and practices of preventing, managing, and controlling tuberculosis;
work for inclusion of modules on the principles and practices of preventing, managing and controlling tuberculosis in the health curriculum of public elementary and high schools;
encourage local media outlets to launch a full-blast media campaign on tuberculosis control, treatment and management, which shall be subject of print, television and radio broadcast and coverage.
There shall also be established, regional centers for tuberculosis control and treatment, which shall:
provide free laboratory monitoring of tuberculosis cases;
provide reliable drugs supply to patients for free;
undertake public information and education programs; and,
educate and train the public on basic ways and means to combat the spread of tuberculosis.