The Philippines Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has come out strongly supporting Senate Bill 2843, that seeks to extend affordable treatment and rehabilitation services to drug dependents all over the country.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Grace Poe, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, is entitled An Act Providing for Affordable Drug Rehabilitation for Philippine Health Insurance (PHIC) Beneficiaries, Further Amending Republic Act 7875, As Amended.
Senate Bill 2843 also aims to integrate the definition of the term drug dependent in RA 7875, or the National Health Insurance Act of 1995.
Drug dependent, as defined under RA 9165 ( Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002),” is a person exhibiting a cluster of physiological, behavioral and cognitive phenomena of variable intensity, in which the use of psychoactive drugs takes on a high priority thereby involving among others, a strong desire or a sense of compulsion to take the substance and the difficulties in controlling substance-taking behavior in terms of its onset, termination, or levels of use.”
PDEA Director General Arturo G. Cacdac Jr., said Senate Bill 2843 seeks to amend the Phil Health Law and include a supplemental health benefit coverage to its members or their dependents as medically necessary for drug rehabilitation treatment purposes and its appropriate services such as provisions of room and board, services of health care professionals , and availability of prescription drugs and biological, subject to limitations.
Services and packages of the bill shall be reviewed annually in keeping with their protection, objectives and financial sustainability, Cacdac said.
PDEA Director General Arturo G. Cacdac Jr., said that “many parents of drug users want to bring their children to treatment and rehabilitation centers but they simply cannot afford it.” The proposed bill answers the problem of many parents.
“If we do not treat the drug dependents, a good number of them will resort to street crimes, or engage in drug pushing in order to support their vice,” Cacdac stressed.
By Bony Bengwayan
