FOLLOWING the signing of the Philippine mental health law, or the Republic Act 11036, a lawmaker on Thursday asked the Department of Health (DOH) to assure the public that there are available generic medicines and better PhilHealth coverage for mental illnesses.
Assistant Majority Leader Ron Salo of Kabayan party-list said hospitals must beef up their rosters of mental health-care specialists.
President Duterte earlier signed the Philippine mental health law to give Filipinos a comprehensive, effective and efficient national mental health-care system.
Presidential Spokesman Harry L. Roque Jr., in a news statement issued on Thursday, said that the signing of Republic Act (RA) 11036 is a “testament of the President’s commitment to provide accessible and affordable mental health care and services to all Filipinos.”
“It forms part of the government’s mandate to design and implement a national mental health program and integrate this as part of the health information system, among others,” he said.
Roque, who was also one of the coauthors of the bill, said that the law recognizes the mental disorders as illness, which can be diagnosed and treated, adding that they hope that this policy will help neutralize the stigma attached to mental illness.
“Implementing a universal mental health-care system in the country would provide more awareness regarding mental health among Filipinos, especially given the rising number of suicide cases among the youth,” he said.
Salo continued: “Generic medicines for mental health illnesses and conditions must be available in all hospitals and pharmacies.”
The DOH and other implementing agencies, the lawmaker said, have to approve implementing rules and regulations with the detailed processes, standards and systems necessary to faithfully implement RA 11036.
“I ask the DOH and DBM [Department of Budget and Management] to include enough funds to kick-start the provision of mental health care. Expanded and better PhilHealth coverage for mental health and generic medicines must be in the set of RA 11036 programs,” Salo said.
He added colleges and universities should also supply the needed college graduates and professionals who will provide the expert and personal touch of a psychiatrist and psychologist.
“School and workplace clinics need psychologists and psychiatrists,” he said.
With this new law, the lawmaker said, Filipinos will be more open and immediately seek professional help when they are in mental distress.
“When a family member goes missing, the family must be frank about the mental health state of the missing person. Families and barangays nationwide should be made aware of all the warning signs of mental distress and be trained to give the appropriate response,” he said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker Romero S. Quimbo of Marikina, principal author of the new law, said the mental health law aims to address current shortcomings in the government response to mental health needs of Filipinos by providing a coherent, rational and unified response to mental health problems through the reconstitution and strengthening of the Philippine Mental Health Council, as well as the formulation and implementation of the National Mental Health Care Delivery System.
He said the law declares the right of every person to have the right to the best available mental health-care services for those who live with mental disorders to be free from any form of exploitation and discrimination on the ground of their condition.
It also provides for the establishment and operation of community-based mental health-care facilities with the target of eventually having one in each cluster municipality in the country.
“Truly fantastic news. It’s a bill that languished in Congress for almost 20 years. Finally, the long wait is over. Today’s signing of the mental health law will hopefully usher in the prevention of thousands of suicides that have been plaguing our country,” Quimbo said.
“For so many years, problems related to mental health have become a silent killer. It has literally become an epidemic. With the enactment, people grappling with depression, anxiety and bipolar conditions can now come out of the darkness,” he added.
The lawmaker, citing DOH data, said 1 in 5 adults and 1 in 10 children in the country have experienced mental-health problems.
“With the stigma attached to mental health in our society, many [have] to endure in silence. The actual figure is likely much higher,” Quimbo said.
Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz and Bernadette D. Nicolas