Proposed ‘OFW Hospital Act’ aimed at institutionalizing migrants’ healthcare

Former House Speaker Martin G. Romualdez is advocating for the institutionalization of the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) Hospital through a new bill, framing the measure as a critical way to support the nation’s “modern heroes” with reliable healthcare.

House Bill No. 7227, known as the OFW Hospital Act, was filed by Romualdez and Tingog Rep. Jude A. Acidre. The proposed legislation seeks to establish the facility as a Level III hospital in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga, under the direct supervision of the Department of Migrant Workers.

Romualdez said Sunday that the bill recognizes the massive contribution of OFWs to the Philippine economy and stressed that the hospital would cater to the specific medical needs of migrants both before they depart and after they return to the country, while also extending services to their qualified legal dependents.

The measure goes beyond standard medical care by designing the facility as a full-service institution that monitors migrant health through all stages of employment.

This includes serving as a site for pre-employment medical examinations and post-arrival health surveillance to detect occupational diseases or stress-related illnesses that often surface after years of working abroad.

One of the bill’s key features is a mandate for 24/7 telehealth services. This would allow workers at Philippine foreign posts or labor offices to access medical guidance from the Philippines, a service proponents describe as lifesaving for those with limited access to trusted healthcare overseas.

The hospital is also positioned as a primary referral facility for repatriated workers needing urgent medical intervention.