A new law promises to provide quality health care to all Filipinos, making it possible for them to get treatment without worrying about the financial risks.
In a ceremony today at the Malacañang Palace, President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Universal Health Care Act, which would provide health care coverage to all Filipinos.
The signing of the law means that all Filipinos will be enrolled in the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP), whether as direct contributors (they are paying for premiums) or as indirect contributors (those sponsored by the government such as indigents, senior citizens, or persons with disabilities).
Membership fees would increase by .5 percent each year while income ceilings for contributions would increase by PHP10,000 (US$192.38) per year.
Filipinos will be registered with a primary health care provider of their choice for outpatient care, medicines, and laboratory tests.
The principal author of the Senate version of the law, Senator JV Ejercito, told ABS-CBN News that the law would expand PhilHealth coverage, which would include free medical checkups, laboratory tests, and other diagnostic services.
The law also states that recipients of government scholarships who are in the medical field will be required to work in public health care centers or hospitals for at least three years.
The new law requires a budget of PHP257 billion (US$4.944 billion) but was given a budget of only PHP217 billion (US$4.174 billion). According to Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, this means that not all health centers that the law requires will be constructed, reported GMA News.
Annual funding for the law will come from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation’s income, premiums from members, the DOH’s budget, and PhilHealth’s budget.
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