Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has expressed his full support for a National Health Program to combat systemic lupus, which emphasizes early detection, timely intervention, and financial coverage to address delayed diagnoses and the serious complications patients face.

As vice chairperson of the Senate Health Committee and a co-sponsor of the measure, the senator highlighted the scale of the disease in the Philippines, the challenges of diagnosis, the work already undertaken by the Senate Health Committee, and the specific responsibilities that must be assumed by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

“I rise to co-sponsor this measure, which institutes a National Health Program to Combat Systematic Lupus Disease,” the senator said.

He immediately anchored the discussion on existing data, while underscoring that the statistics reflect real lives affected by a chronic and unpredictable illness.

“Mr. President, according to data, 30 to 50 out of every 100,000 Filipinos are affected by lupus. Behind these numbers are real people confronting a daily battle with symptoms such as fatigue, joint pain, organ complications, and unpredictable flare-ups,” Go stated.

The senator went on to explain why lupus often goes undetected until it has already caused significant harm, noting that it can easily be mistaken for other diseases. “It is also said that lupus is a ‘mimicker disease.’

“This means it mimics the symptoms of various other diseases. Without the right tools and awareness, many are diagnosed only when the disease has already caused serious damage,” he said.

Because of these challenges and their consequences, Go noted the importance of early interventions in health policy.

“That’s why this became one of our priorities in the Committee on Health. In fact, it was included in the first discussions of the Committee during the 20th Congress,” he said, referring to legislative efforts when Go was still heading the Senate Health Committee.

PhilHealth must follow through

While the proposed measure has not yet been enacted into law, the senator emphasized that preparatory steps had already been taken during budget deliberations, particularly involving PhilHealth.

“While this is not yet a law, we have already secured a commitment from PhilHealth during the budget hearings to develop a benefit package for lupus. We now call on PhilHealth to fulfill its commitment,” he said.

Go said the bill focuses on prevention and early action, arguing that the health system must be equipped to respond before irreversible damage occurs. “As Vice-Chair of the Committee on Health, I believe that prevention is always better than cure. Through this measure, we empower our health system to detect lupus early, to intervene promptly, and to save more lives,” he said.

Go highlighted the importance of access, particularly for Filipinos who cannot afford diagnostic procedures. He said the proposed legislation aims to remove cost as a barrier to testing and screening. “But more than that, we hope to encourage more Filipinos to get checked, especially those who cannot afford the diagnostic tests. Through this proposed law, the cost of lupus early detection and screening will be covered by PhilHealth benefits,” he said.

According to Go, extending PhilHealth coverage to early detection and screening would address one of the most persistent problems in lupus care: delayed diagnosis. “This will not only reduce delayed diagnosis, but also give every patient, regardless of income or location, a fighting chance against this incurable disease,” he added.

In addition to serving as a co-sponsor, Go expressed interest in co-authoring this measure.