President Duterte yesterday signed the Universal Health Care Act that seeks to provide health care for all Filipinos.
Duterte lauded the passage of the UHC Act in a speech during the ceremonial signing in Malacañang.
“By automatically enrolling our citizens into the National Health Insurance Program and expanding PhilHealth coverage to include free medical consultations and laboratory tests, the Universal Healthcare Law that I signed today will guarantee equitable access to quality and affordable healthcare services for all Filipinos,” he added.
Among the significant reforms that will be implemented over time because of the UHC Act are the automatic enrollment of all Filipinos in PhilHealth, designating PhilHealth as the national purchaser for health goods and services, improvement of health facilities especially in underserved areas, responding to the gap in health workers, strategic engagement of the private sector, and creating and expanding new functions in the Department of Health to improve delivery of health services.
The UHC Act also operationalizes primary health care and mainstreams health promotion to protect people from disease, empowers individuals and communities to maintain good health, and supports effective management of illness and disability.
The Department of Health also welcomed the signing of the UHC Act, saying it will also shift the health system’s current treatment-oriented approach towards a more balanced approach emphasizing prevention and health promotion.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo assured that the government will be able to find source to fund the implementation of the law.
Also present during the signing of the UHC Act were proponents of the measure. (Argyll Geducos)