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 heavy 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 Department’s 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.
-www.doh.gov.ph
