Duterte certifies universal health coverage bill urgent

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has certified the Universal Health Coverage measure as urgent, with the Palace yesterday calling on the Senate to speed up its approval and usher in better health and free hospital coverage for Filipinos.

“This means we can expect the Senate to act very quickly on the pending bill, which is being heard by the Senate committee on health headed by Sen. JV Ejercito,” said Roque, who also pushed for the measure while he was still a party-list representative.

Roque said the House of Representatives has approved its version of the measure.

Under the proposed law, Roque said the government aims to provide for the right to health by providing primary care to all Filipinos, adding that this includes free medicine for all.

Roque also underscored the role of health workers in making universal health coverage a reality.

“What we have is a hybrid universal healthcare, where PhilHealth will be renamed as Philippine Health Security Corp., giving out medical insurance,” he said. “The government will also shoulder expenses to provide free medicine.”

In the Senate, Sen. Sonny Angara has submitted a proposed universal health coverage through systematic and systemic approaches, complemented by clear delineation of roles and functions of concerned agencies.  

Angara’s proposal also seeks to enhance and rename the National Health Insurance Program, established by Republic Act 7875 or the National Health Insurance Act of 2013, into the National Health Security Program, as a mechanism for citizens to gain financial access to health services.  

The measure was introduced on first reading last Feb. 5 at the Senate and was referred to the committees on health and demography, ways and means and finance.

‘Passage crucial’

After Duterte certified Universal Health Coverage as urgent in the Cabinet meeting last Monday at Malacañang, Ejercito has vowed to speed up its passage.

Ejercito said the increasing prices of basic goods make the passage of the measure even more critical.

“We know that health care is a major component of our people’s expenditure,” Ejercito said, adding that 54.2 percent of health expenditures in 2016 were shouldered by Filipinos while government’s share comprised only 34.2 percent of the total expense.

“With the prices of fuel, transportation and basic goods skyrocketing, the passage of this bill will mean a lot to Filipino families in terms of improving their quality of life,” he said.

The bill provides for the automatic inclusion of every Filipino into the National Health Insurance Program of PhilHealth.

Ejercito said the measure is especially beneficial for poor Filipinos and those who live in far-flung areas currently not reached by the government’s health service.

“I view universal health care as integral to our anti-poverty drive. Ensuring good health for Filipinos is crucial to economic development because ensuring the well-being of all Filipinos means that they can be more productive, which further means they can better overcome poverty,” he said.  – With Paolo Romero