Solons laud enactment of landmark Universal Health Care Law

Kabayan party-list Rep. Ron Salo said the enactment of the measure into law is historic because the country is finally giving PhilHealth coverage to every Filipino. (File Photo: Ron Salo/Facebook)

MANILA — Lawmakers at the House of Representatives on Wednesday lauded the signing of the landmark Universal Health Care Law by President Rodrigo Duterte, calling its enactment as “historic” and a “priceless gift” to all Filipinos.

Kabayan party-list Rep. Ron Salo said the enactment of the measure into law is historic because the country is finally giving PhilHealth coverage to every Filipino.

“Basta Pilipino ka, covered ka. Kahit wala kang trabaho, covered ka. Dahil sa Universal Health Care Law, lahat ng Pilipino sakop na ngPhilHealth coverage. Iyan ang makasaysayan sa batas na ito (As long as you are a Filipino, you are covered. Even if you are jobless, you are covered. Because under the Universal Health Care law, every Filipino is covered by PhilHealth. That is what is historic in this law),” he said.

The House Deputy Majority Leader added that the new law also gives something priceless.

“Peace of mind. Iyan ang regalo ng gobyerno, partikular ng Kongreso at ni Pangulong Duterte, sa lahat ng Pilipino (That is the government’s gift, particularly the President and Congress, to all Filipinos,” Salo said.

He said this is because the Universal Health Care Law would ensure that Filipino families, especially the poor, would take their sick members to the hospital instead of resorting to “self-medication” due to lack of money.

“Maraming mga Pilipino ang tinitiis na lang ang karamdaman, o kaya’y kung anu-anong ang ginagawa na wala namang basehan sa medisina o siyensiya (self-medication) dahil kapos sila sa perang pambayad sa doctor. Iyan ang nilulunasan ngayong ng Universal Health Care (Many Filipinos just endure their illnesses or resort to unproven and unscientific self-medication because they do not have the money to pay the doctor. That’s what is being rectified by Universal Health Care),” Salo said.

With the new law, Salo expects an increase in hospital visits and consultations to the doctor.

“Filipinos who have never consulted a doctor in their entire life will be encouraged to visit the nearest accredited hospitals since consultations are covered by PhilHealth. Over time, we will gradually see an overall improvement of our health as a nation,” he said.

“A healthy Philippines will become a much more progressive, developed, and economically-strong nation,” Salo said.

Meanwhile, Akbayan party-list Rep. Tom Villarin also lauded the passage of the Universal Health Care bill into law.

“Akbayan party-list lauds the enactment of the Universal Healthcare Law. This is a landmark legislation that sees health not only as a social service, but as a right that belongs to all Filipinos,” Villarin said.

Villarin, one of the principal authors of the measure at the House, said they are now looking forward to the full implementation of the newly-signed law.

“Akbayan party-list looks forward to the law’s full implementation, particularly government’s duty to ensure that enough medical professionals, facilities, and tools will actually deliver the law’s promise of health for Filipinos of all walks of life,” Villarin said.

Under the Universal Health Care Law, all Filipinos will be automatically enrolled in the proposed National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) either as direct contributor or indirect contributor.

Direct contributors are those who can pay health premiums while indirect contributors are those sponsored like senior citizens or indigents.

The law also aims to expand the PhilHealth coverage to include free consultation tests and other diagnostic services.

Filipinos will now have access to the full spectrum of health care, which includes preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative care for medical, dental, mental, and emergency health services.

Direct contributor would also get more benefits as premiums increase. This is intended to encourage those who pay higher premiums and those who are voluntarily paying.

PhilHealth payments for local government unit (LGU) hospitals would be set aside in a special fund to improve the health facilities in LGUs.