THE Games and Amusements Board (GAB), headed by Chairman Abraham “Baham” Mitra is pushing for the plan to give free medical services to Filipino professional boxers.
The plan became even more important due to the surge in coronavirus cases recently.
“We are calling our friends in both the Senate and Congress. Sana po may maghain ng panukalang na magkakaloob ng libreng medical services para sa ating mga atleta,” said Mitra in an interview with People’s Tonight..
“Kung wala pong batas, talaga magre-relay na lang tayo sa renewal ng ating Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) kasama ang ating mga kaibigan sa Department of Health (DOH) at Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP),” explained Mitra.
A three-time lawmaker from Palawan, Mitra underscored the importance of providing medical needs to professional athletes before and after their fights.
“Sa nasabing policy ng GAB, ang mga boxers ay kailangan ng medical check-up bago pa man lumaban. After the fights, pahinga at balik sa medical test ang mga ‘yan dahil after three months puwede na uling lumaban.
Since his appointment at GAB in 2016, Mitra immediately reached out to the DOH to finalize an agreement that will provide free medical, dental and laboratory services to professional athletes in all government-owned hospitals.
