As the country faces looming threats of man-made and natural disasters
ANGARA EYES MORE FUNDS FOR EFFECTIVE EMERGENCY
MEDICINE IN RP

Senator Edgardo J. Angara today emphasized the need for increased appropriation in the national budget in order to develop the country's emergency medicine capability as the country faces the havoc of natural and man-made disasters, this he said as he keynoted the 9th Post-graduate course of the University of the Philippines Manila - Philippine General Hospital focusing on the theme Emergency Medicine: In the Speed of Life.

"Emergency medicine sits on the forefront whenever a person or an entire community is put in danger. Because of the continuing practice of emergency medicine, communities are made safe. Studies show that the level of safety is directly proportional to how ready emergency medicine practitioners are to handle all hazards of any scale," said Angara who chairs the Senate Committee on Finance.

The event highlighted the importance of bringing together the emergency community first responders which the senator believes that in modern world where threat is even greater, the need for fast responders is even more imperative.

The senator, who has previously chaired the Senate Committee on Health, observed that emergency medicine in the country is relatively young and there is a need to tell us its development in view of the new threat to health and life that a changed world is bringing to us.

He added, "it is comforting to know that our country is already on second stage; that of developing emergency systems but we must aspire to reach the third stage; a mature emergency system that can fully achieve effective emergency medicine".

In 2008, statistics show that in US, there were 39,061 clinically active emergency physicians, of which 57% were emergency medicine board certified and 69% were emergency medicine trained or emergency medicine board certified. Nearly all (98%) of their emergency physicians who graduated within the past 5 years were emergency medicine trained or emergency medicine board certified.

The senator said that this is in contrast with RP statistics which says that we need to attract more doctors to this field.

Of 23 certified emergency physicians in the Philippines, 17 are full-time emergency practitioners.

In 2005, the percentage of patients transferred to the Acute Care Unit of the PGH ranged from 2% to 4%. On a monthly basis, this translates to 38 patients.

Angara told the country needs to continue to making strides in developing a national level of good health and preparedness. He said that it requires the help of emergency medicine practitioners by developing partnerships at all levels and by producing necessary training, resources and planning for developing emergency medicine.

He committed to fund these projects in the 2010 national budget, once proposals are finalized.

"The prevention of any threat to the well-being of the public is a continuing challenge. As a nation, we need to be ready to respond immediately and swiftly if and when any individual's life is placed in danger. Through this, we have placed a step forward in attaining national competitiveness," added Angara.