Health and Well-being of Older Persons

Rationale The proportion of older persons is expected to rise worldwide. In the 1998 World Health Report, there were 390 million older people and this figure is expected to increase further (WHO). This growth will certainly pose a challenge to country governments, particularly to the developing countries, in caring for their aging population. In the Philippines, the population of 60 years or older was 3.7 million in 1995 or 5.4% of total population. In the CY 2000 census, this has increased to about 4.8 million or almost 6% (NSCB). At present there are 7M senior citizens (6.9% of the total population), 1.3M of which are indigents. With the rise of the aging population is the increase in the demand for health services by the elderly. A study done by Racelis et al (2003) on the share of health expenditure of Filipino elderly on the National Health Account, the elderly are relatively hea vy consumers of personal health care (22%) and relatively light consumers of public health care (5%). From out -of-pocket costs, the aged are heavy users of care provided by medical centers, hospitals, non-hospital health facilities and traditional care facilities. Cognizant of the growing concerns of the older population, laws and policies were developed which would provide them with enabling mechanisms for them to have quality life. RA 9257 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2003 (predecessor of RA 9994) provided for the expansion of coverage of benefits and privileges that the elderly may acquire, including medically necessary services. Parallel to this objective is the Departments desire to provide affordable and quality health services to the marginalized population, especially the elderly, without impeding currently pursued objectives and alongside health systems reform. One of the provisions of RA 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens act of 2010 is for the DOH to administer free vaccination against the influenza virus and pneumococcal diseases for indigent senior citizens. The DOH in coordination with local government units (LGUs), NGOs and POs for senior citizens shall institute a national health program and shall provide an integrated health service for senior citizens. It shall train community based health workers among senior citizens health personnel to specialize in the geriatric care and health problems of senior citizens.

Interventions/Strategies Implemented by DOH 1. Creation of a National Technical Working Group on the Health and Well-being of Older Persons (DPO. No. 2011- 3578

dated June 29, 2011 Chaired by NCDPC- Director III. 2. 3. 4. Planning Meeting for the Senior Citizens Immunization Program Consultative Planning and Finalization of Immunization Guidelines for Indigent Senior Citizens Provision of Pneumococcal and Flu Vaccines to Indigent Senior Citizens aged 60 years old and above using the NHTS of

the DSWD including GO NGO shelter homes in 2011 5. 6. Conduct annual Summer Camp ni Lolo at Lola Support the annual Walk for Life for the elderly every October

Status of Implementation / Accomplishment

1.

The total pneumococcal and influenza vaccines delivered to all CHDs for the CY 2011 were 197,000 and 173,000

respectively including the sub-allotment per region for HWOP activities. 2. 3. 2010. 4. 5. Summer Camp ni Lolo at Lola 2012 held at Davao, City. Support World Health Day April 12, 2012 with the theme Ageing and Health in coordination with NCHP and WHO Training and Orientation of Pneumo and Flu Vaccines for HWOP Coordinators Signed Guidelines to Implement the Provisions Relevant to Health of RA 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of

Future Plan / Action 1. 2. 3. Pneumococcal and Influenza Vaccines for CY 2012 still with COBAC Support to Walk for Life Activity on October 2012. Summer Camp nina Lolo at Lola 2013

Program Manager:

Ms. Remedios Guerrero Department of Health-Non Communicable Disease Office (DOH NCDPC-DDO) Contact Number: 651-78-00 local 1750-1752

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7876

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A SENIOR CITIZENS CENTER IN ALL CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES OF THE PHILIPPINES, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.
Sec. 1. Title. This Act shall be known as the "Senior Citizens Center Act of the Philippines." Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. It is the declared policy of the State to provide adequate social services and an improved quality of life for all. For this purpose, the State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach towards health development giving priority to elderly among others.chan robles virtual law library Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. (a) "Senior citizens," as used in this Act, shall refer to any person who is at least sixty (60) years of age. (b) "Center," as used in this Act, refers to the place established by this Act with recreational, educational, health and social programs and facilities designed for the full enjoyment and benefit of the senior citizens in the city or municipality.

Sec. 4. Establishment of Centers. There is hereby established a senior citizens center, hereinafter referred to as the Center, in every city and municipality of the Philippines, under direct supervision of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, hereinafter referred to as the Department, in collaboration with the local government unit concerned. Sec. 5. Functions of the Centers. The centers are extensions of the fourteen (14) regional offices of the Department. They shall carry out the following functions: (a) Identify the needs, trainings, and opportunities of senior citizens in the cities and municipalities;chan robles virtual law library (b) Initiate, develop and implement productive activities and work schemes for senior citizens in order to provide income or otherwise supplement their earnings in the local community; (c) Promote and maintain linkages with provincial government units and other instrumentalities of government and the city and municipal councils for the elderly and the Federation of Senior Citizens Association of the Philippines and other nongovernment organizations for the delivery of health care services, facilities, professional advice services, volunteer training and community self-help projects; and (d) To exercise such other functions which are necessary to carry out the purpose for which the centers are established. Sec. 6. Center Workers. The Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) may designate social workers from the Department as the workers of the centers: Provided, however, That the Secretary may appoint other personnel who possess the necessary professional qualifications to work efficiently with the elderly of the community. The Secretary may also call upon private volunteers who are responsible members of the community to provide medical, educational and other services and facilities for the senior citizens. Sec. 7. Qualification/Disqualification. A senior citizen who suffers from a contagious disease, or who is mentally unfit or unsound or whose actuations are inimical to other senior citizens as determined by the DSWD on the basis of an appropriate certification by a qualified government or private volunteer physician, may be denied the benefits provided in the Center. However, the center shall refer the senior citizen concerned to the appropriate government agency for the needed medical care or confinement. Sec. 8. Exemptions of the Center. The Center shall be exempted from the payment of customs duties, taxes and tariffs on the importation of equipment and supplies used actually, directly and exclusively by the Center pursuant to this Act, including those donated to the Center. Sec. 9. Rules and Regulations. Withinsixty (60) days from the approval of this Act, the DSWD, in coordination with other government agencies concerned, shall issue the rules and regulations to effectively implement the provisions of this Act. Any violation of this section shall render the concerned official(s) liable under Republic Act No. 6713, otherwise known as the "Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees" and other existing administrative and/or criminal laws. Sec. 10. Coordination of Government Agencies. The DSWD, in coordination with the Department of Health and other government agencies and local government units, shall assist in the effective implementation of this Act and provide the necessary support services. Sec. 11. Appropriations. The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment into law and every year thereafter.

The sum necessary for the continuous operation of the centers shall be subsidized in part by the DSWD and in part by the local government units concerned. Sec. 12. Repealing or Amending Clause. All laws, decrees, executive orders, and rules and regulations, which are not consistent with this Act, are hereby modified, amended or repealed accordingly.chan robles virtual law library Sec. 13. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved: February 14, 1995