Speaker Dy Backs Nationwide Integrated Emergency Medical System to Save Lives

Photo Courtesy of House of Representatives of the Philippines / Facebook

House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III has declared full legislative support for the establishment of a National Integrated Emergency Medical Services System (EMSS), following the House Committee on Health's approval of a consolidated bill aimed at optimizing the country's fragmented emergency services capabilities.

The proposed EMSS aims to address the lack of a unified, nationwide system for handling emergency medical scenarios, which currently results in uneven care access.

Key Objectives of the Proposed EMSS:

Standardization & Speed: Establishing clear national guidelines for emergency services, responder training, and institutional accreditation.

Resource Management: Mandating standardized equipment for all emergency medical vehicles and improving the distribution of emergency tools like AEDs.

Coordination: Improving inter-facility patient transfers and connecting local government units, private hospitals, and NGOs.

Speaker Dy highlighted that the initiative goes beyond just having a hotline, aiming to ensure a "fast, organized, and high-quality response" that saves lives. The measure has received strong support from the Department of Health (DOH), with Undersecretary Dr. Albert Francis Domingo emphasizing its importance in bridging structural divides and strengthening pre-hospital care.

The consolidated bill will now move to the plenary for further debate.