Following the directive of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte during his recent State of the Nation Address (SONA), Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Jr. called on the Senate to pass the Universal Health Care (UHC) Bill.
In several radio interviews on Wednesday, July 25, Secretary Roque, who was the principal author of House Bill No. 5784 when he was still a member of the 17th Congress, said the President’s message is clear: universal healthcare should be prioritized.
“The President has sent a clear, loud, and unequivocal message regarding universal healthcare to Congress, and the House has done its part. It’s time for the Senate to do the same,” the former legislator said.
The Palace official told the listeners that the UHC is a landmark legislation as it would allow all Filipinos to access quality healthcare services regardless of their socio-economic status.
“Napakalaking ginhawa ito para sa bawat Pilipino, lalo na sa mga mahihirap. Basta Pilipino ka, obligado ang gobyerno na bigyan ng benepisyo na pangkalusugan; hindi magiging isyu ang kapasidad ninyo magbayad––importante lang ay ipinanganak kang Pilipino,” Roque explained.
The Chief Executive echoed Roque’s sentiments regarding quality healthcare during his third SONA.
“This will ensure that every Filipino family gets the appropriate, affordable, and quality health services in appropriate facilities and will be protected from financial burden due to sickness,” he said.
According to President Duterte, while there are still many things to do in order to improve the healthcare system in the country, the government is doing its fair share to make such goal possible.
“We shall pool all our resources for health services under the [PhilHealth]; institutionalize primary care as a prerequisite to access higher level of healthcare; and supplement human resource gaps of the LGUs through a National Health Workforce Support System,” Duterte added.
Under HB 5784, the UHC version passed by Congress, the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) will be known as the Philippine Health Security Corp. (PHSC) and will be the sole purchaser of health services in the country.
The bill also provides for the adoption and institutionalization of a periodic Health Technology Assessment (HTA) and the creation of the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC). (PCO-Content)
