Right to Care Cards: How Quezon City’s Program Could Become a National Model
In a healthcare system that often overlooks LGBTQ+ relationships, Quezon City’s pioneering Right to Care card program stands as a beacon of hope and inclusion. Since its launch in June 2023, this groundbreaking initiative has been empowering queer couples to make critical medical decisions for each other, a right previously reserved only for legal spouses and immediate family members.
The concept is elegantly simple yet profoundly impactful: through a Special Power of Attorney (SPA), the Right to Care card authorizes LGBTQ+ partners to make medical decisions for each other during emergencies. In a country where same-sex marriage remains unrecognized, this initiative bridges a crucial gap in healthcare rights.
How the Program Works
Obtaining a Right to Care card involves a straightforward process. Couples where at least one partner resides in Quezon City can register either online or in person at the Gender and Development Council Office. After completing registration, couples attend an orientation session held on Saturdays, where they sign the Special Power of Attorney in the presence of legal counsel. Once processed, they receive their Right to Care cards, complete with QR codes linking to their notarized SPAs.
The program launched with implementation in Quezon City’s public healthcare facilities, including Quezon City General Hospital, Novaliches District Hospital, and Rosario Maclang Bautista General Hospital. The city government continues working to secure partnerships with private hospitals as well.
From Local Initiative to National Legislation
What began as a local program may soon transform into national policy. Party-list Representative Percival Cendaña filed the proposed Right to Care Act in November 2024, which would extend these protections nationwide. The bill, currently in committee debates, would mandate that all health facilities across the Philippines recognize these rights or face penalties.
“For 25 years, we’ve been depriving LGBTQ people of their basic fundamental rights,” Cendaña noted. While the proposed law doesn’t establish marriage equality, it takes a significant step by recognizing “that the relationships of LGBTQ+ people are valid.”
Doc’s Orders: Why This Matters
As a health professional, I cannot overstate the importance of this initiative. Medical emergencies are already traumatic experiences, imagine being denied information about your partner’s condition or prevented from making decisions about their care simply because your relationship isn’t legally recognized. This exclusion compounds suffering during already difficult times.
The Right to Care card addresses a fundamental human need: the ability to care for those we love when they’re most vulnerable. It acknowledges the reality that love and commitment exist regardless of legal recognition, and that LGBTQ+ couples deserve the basic dignity of caring for each other through illness and emergency.
With orientation sessions continuing through June 29 (except June 22), I encourage eligible couples to register. Even while waiting for your physical card, the notarized SPA provides immediate protection. This small document represents a giant leap toward healthcare equality, one that hopefully will soon extend throughout our nation.
