During the Senate regular session last Wednesday, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, chairperson of the Committee on Health and Demography and a known health reforms crusader, sponsored Senate Bill No. 2928 under Committee Report No. 465.

The proposed legislation, principally sponsored by Go, seeks to expand the bed capacity of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) from 1,334 to 2,200 beds to alleviate overcrowding and improve healthcare services for Filipinos, particularly indigent patients.

Senator Go began by recounting PGH’s rich history, highlighting its establishment through Act 1688 in 1907 and its opening on 1 September 1910. He underscored its critical role as the largest modern government tertiary hospital in the Philippines.

“Today, PGH is considered the biggest modern government tertiary hospital in the Philippines, servicing more than 700,000 patients annually. It remains to be a national referral center for tertiary care, providing direct and quality patient services to thousands of indigent Filipinos all over the country,” Go said.

He further noted that the hospital’s emergency room had similarly exceeded its capacity, reaching 200 percent in June 2022 due to patients with non-Covid-19-related ailments, including pneumonia, diabetes and heart, lung and kidney diseases.

Senator Go highlighted several initiatives aimed at supporting PGH operations, including the establishment of a Malasakit Center within its premises.

He also cited assistance extended to PGH during emergencies such as the 2021 fire, the March 2024 fire at the Medicine Ward, and the typhoon-induced flooding in July 2024. “In 2021, when a fire broke out in the PGH, we were ready to assist to help PGH restore its normal operations,” he recalled.