Yesterday, Tuesday 28 May The Chamber of Deputies approved as urgent and after two consecutive readings, a legislative proposal that creates the National Fund for Solidarity Healthcare (Fonass). The deputies did not vote on the pending legislation of the 911 Emergency Services. The bill, which was presented by Deputy Juan Carlos Quinones, seeks to guarantee specialized assistance for people with catastrophic (and high-cost and complex) diseases.
Among its considerations, the proposal states that in the country the vast majority of highly complex medical cases are not covered by health insurance so most people who are affected by these diseases have no access to adequate care or therapeutic support due to the cost of the treatments. This fund, which would come under the control of the Ministry of Public Health, will receive its contributions through the National Treasury. The proposal now goes to the Senate for consideration.
In the meantime, the legislative proposal that creates the 911 emergency service was left on the table, after the Interior and Police commission did not file its report which recommends some modifications to the legislation. Deputy Elpidio Baez, the chairman of the commission, was not present at the session.