Probe sought on condition of facilities in National Center for Mental Health

SENATOR RAFFY Tulfo has filed a resolution seeking to investigate the tragic condition of patients at the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) facilities who are not receiving the specialized care and treatment they deserve because of the hospital's poor facilities.

Tulfo filed Senate Resolution (SR) No. 562 directing the Senate Committee on Health to conduct an inquiry on the condition of the facilities in the NCMH to ensure that patients receive proper care and to address the reported corruption in its management.

He filed the resolution after a surprise ocular inspection at the NCMH following reports that the mental health patients in the hospital are being treated unjustly or even worse than animals. "Nakakalungkot na makita ang kalunos-lunos na kalagayan ng ilang mga pasyente sa NCMH sa Mandaluyong. Kung mahina ang iyong sikmura, tiyak na masusuka ka sa sobrang baho ng kanilang ward. Daig pa ang amoy ng kulungan ng baboy.

"Sa sahig sila natutulog at walang banig, kumot o unan. Nagsisiksikan na parang mga sardinas at sobrang init na mistulang pugon dahil walang ventilation at kulang sa electric fan," he said.

Tulfo recalled that he first inspected Pavilion 8 or the Female Ward that smelled of patients' feces and urine, which was made even awful by the smell of garbage dumped outside. He also inspected Pavilion 4 or the Forensic Ward housing patients with pending court cases.

He said the cramped pavilion had no ventilation and housed some 50 patients although its capacity is only for 10 people.

Tulfo said he wants to know the root causes of the problems and lapses in the facilities and operations of NCMH, as well as assess the quality of care, treatment, and support provided to patients in the hospital.

A member of the Senate Committee on Health, Tulfo also stressed the need to hold accountable those responsible for corruption or any lapses, negligence, or violations of laws, rules, and regulations governing mental health care services.

Tulfo said that there was one abandoned pavilion in NCMH, and its construction was not finished despite a budget of 60 million pesos. In fact, Tulfo further divulged that it was also the reason why the former chief of NCMH was murdered. He was referring to the July 2020 killing of NCMH chief Roland Cortez, who was shot dead by two motorcycle gunmen who also killed his driver Ernesto dela Cruz in Tandang Sora in Quezon City.

He said that that budget allocated by the government for NCMH should be used to improve the quality of care and support provided to patients instead of being pocketed by corrupt people using the money for their own benefits. (Mindanao Examiner)