Recently, the World Health Organization released the Global Disability Action Plan 20142021. This document intends to help countries direct their efforts towards specific actions in
order to address health concerns of persons with disabilities. The Action Plan identified three
major objectives: to remove barriers and improve access to health services and programmes; (2)
to strengthen and extend rehabilitation, habilitation, assistive technology, assistance and
support services, and community-based rehabilitation; (3) to strengthen collection of relevant
and internationally comparable data on disability and support research on disability and related
services.
National Policies, Programs and Services
The 1987 Philippines Constitution explicitly referenced the prioritization of women and
persons with disabilities in the health development of the country. 3 It also mandates the state
to “establish a special agency for disabled person for their rehabilitation, self-development, and
self-reliance, and their integration into the mainstream of society”. The Magna Carta for Persons
with Disability expounds further government‘s obligation to integrate the concerns of persons
with disabilities in all types of public services, including health and medical. The Magna Carta of
Persons with mandates the DOH to develop national health programs aim at prevention of
disability, early diagnosis and rehabilitation of persons with disabilities including the medical
treatment and establishment and appropriating for funds for rehabilitation centers.
The Department of Health (DOH) acts as the lead agency in championing the health of
PWDS, with health programs focus on prevention of diseases and conditions that may cause
disabilities. The passage of RA 9288 or the Newborn Screening Act of 2004, requires hospitals to
conduct six mandatory neonatal screening procedures upon giving birth to children to address
the need for early and timely intervention to those who may have various impairments. Similarly,
the department’s launched the Prevention of Blindness Program in 2017 where it integrates eye
care into public health programs at the local government unit level for continued advocacy and
promotion of comprehensive eye care with focus on avoidable blindness. The program utilizes
service delivery network to ensure families especially the poor and marginalized are profiled,
navigated, and referred and arrangements made with health providers in the different levels of
care.
To ensure availability and affordability of medicines needed by PWDS for their health
maintenance and treatment, the government enacted the Cheaper Medicine Act of 2008 or RA
9502 and the Generics Law of 1998 or RA 6675. Further, DOH issued Implementing Guidelines of
Republic Act 10754, otherwise known as “An Act Expanding the Benefits and Privileges of Persons
with Disability”, for the Provision of Medical and Health-related Discounts and Special Privileges,
3
Article XIII, Section 11
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