DAVAO CITY (February 20)— President Rodigo Duterte on Wednesday signed into law the Universal Healthcare Act, which means all Filipino citizens will be automatically enrolled into a National Health Insurance Program.”
Under the law, membership in the NHIP will be classified as “direct contributors” or those who have the capacity to pay premiums, or “indirect contributors” or those sponsored by the government such as indigents, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities.
The measure guarantees equitable access to quality and affordable health goods and services and protection against financial risks to all Filipinos.
It has a funding requirement of P257 billion, but was given an appropriations of only P217 billion under the proposed 2019 national budget.
The law also grants every Filipino “immediate eligibility” and access to preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative health services, delivered either as population-based or individual-based health services.
The passage of the law would expand PhilHealth coverage, which would include free medical checkups, laboratory tests, and other diagnostic services.
According to Senator JV Ejercito, author of the Bill, All graduates of health-related courses who are recipients of government-funded scholarship programs will be required to serve for at least 3 years in the public sector.
Funds for public health coverage will be pooled from the incremental sin tax collections, charity fund from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), income from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), premium contribution of members, annual appropriations of the Department of Health (DOH), and government subsidy to PhilHealth. –ezc/NewsLine.ph
