CORPORAL Winston Ragos was our soldier. He served with the Army’s 31st Infantry Battalion, under the 9th Infantry “Spear” Division, based in Camarines Sur. There, he experienced the horrors of war, suffering schizophrenia and trauma. He was confined for months at a medical center, before returning to the service. And though he was discharged from the military months before the Marawi siege, his comrades in his former unit eventually fought and died in that conflict.
When the enhanced community quarantine was declared, he was staying in Barangay Pasong Putik, Novaliches, Quezon City. Sometimes, he would sing alone, helping with chores when he was aided by his maintenance medicine. But with the quarantine came issues about purchasing his medication at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC).
It may well be that his mental health issues played a significant part in the unfortunate event that ended with his death on Tuesday, April 21st of this year.
The Mental Health Act, or Republic Act No. 11036, requires that PhilHealth have insurance packages available to patients affected by mental health conditions, and that access to medicines needed must be ensured. People with mental health conditions should have access to affordable essential health services, at all levels of the national healthcare system.
However, while we do have the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO), VMMC and the Mental Health Act in play to help veterans who need support, the unfortunate incident involving Corporal Ragos emphasizes a need to revisit, reexamine, and realign mental health services.
The Mental Health Act had provisions and implementing rules and regulations for formulating national strategies and policies towards the development of a national healthcare system that includes the mental well-being of Filipinos in mind; the strengthening of the rights of patients, their loved ones, and involved mental health medical professionals; and finally, the dissemination of information about mental health services, and how to promote mental health in various communities.
However, as the case of Corporal Ragos has shown us, some of the existing policies and guidelines need updates to better serve our men in uniform. This is why I have filed a bill that will amend the Mental Health Act, specifically by including another right in Section 5, which describes the rights of the service user. This new right allows a qualified recipient to immediately receive compensation benefits and other applicable financial assistance under existing laws, should he or she sustain temporary or permanent mental health issues while in the performance of duties or because of the occupied office or position.
I am also looking to consult with various groups and stakeholders to explore the possibility of amending laws on special benefits for uniformed personnel. We have to find ways to properly supply much-needed maintenance medicines to PVAO-accredited health centers nearer to where outpatient veterans live. Understandably, there are medical and legal guidelines that may have to be reviewed and addressed for this to happen.
It’s also important to tackle the Philhealth case rate. The case rate for mental health conditions is P7,800. PWD discounts can also be applied, such as the 20% discount and VAT exemption. The rate can be broken down to P2,340 for professional fees, with the remaining for healthcare institutions. That’s a rather tight budget, considering the costs of some maintenance medicines. Perhaps it is possible to find a solution to this that can work with existing laws.
Hence, two things are worth considering: a higher case rate overall for those with mental health issues, and, if a veteran is an outpatient, more support for medicine prescriptions and outpatient mental health services.
Corporal Winston Ragos was our soldier. He held the line, and he paid a heavy price. It is only proper that we whom he defended should find a way to support others who have paid a similar price in defense of our country. We should, in the future, have services and strategies in place to make sure that what happened to Corporal Ragos will never happen again.
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Sen. Sonny Angara has been in public service for 15 years — nine years as Representative of the Lone District of Aurora, and six as Senator. He has authored and sponsored more than 200 laws. He is currently serving his second term in the Senate. (Email: sensonnyangara@yahoo.com| Facebook, Twitter & Instagram: @sonnyangara)/PN
