HEALTH CARE FOR ALL Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and other legislators applaud President Duterte as he signs the Universal Health Care Act in Malaca帽ang on Wednesday. 鈥擩OAN BONDOC
President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday signed a law giving all Filipinos access to health care services.
The Universal Health Care Act expands PhilHealth coverage to include all citizens of the Philippines, and its services to provide members free medical consultation, laboratory tests, and other diagnostic requirements.
The President hailed the new law, saying it 鈥済uarantee[s] equitable access to quality and affordable health care services for all Filipinos.鈥�
The President also signed the Revised Corporation Code during an event in Malaca帽ang that was attended by Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the legislators who wrote the two laws.
The President also presented other newly signed laws, including the Social Security Act, Philippine Sports Training Center Act, new Central Bank Act and a measure dividing Southern Leyte into two legislative districts.
All are PhilHealth members
The Universal Health Care Act enrolls all Filipino citizens in the National Health Insurance Program, either as 鈥渄irect contributors鈥� or as 鈥渋ndirect contributors.鈥�
Direct contributors pay health premiums, while indirect contributors are sponsored members like senior citizens and indigents.
Under the new law, all Filipinos may seek primary health services even without PhilHealth identification cards.
The law also requires all graduates of health-related courses whose studies were funded through government scholarships to serve for at least three years in public hospitals.
Implementation of the law requires P257 billion in the first year, but it is given only P217 billion in the proposed P2019 national budget that the President has yet to sign.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III earlier said the funding gap of P40 billion meant that not all the hospitals or health centers planned under the new law would be built.
Village health centers
Priority would be given to building village health centers so that residents would not need to go to hospitals for treatment of minor illnesses, Duque said.
Funds for implementation of the new law would come from taxes on sin products, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., Department of Health (DOH), government subsidy to PhilHealth and contributions of PhilHealth members.
In a statement released in Malaca帽ang on Wednesday, the DOH said it was 鈥渁ctively working鈥� for higher excise on tobacco and alcohol to ensure funds for the implementation of universal health care.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said gradual implementation of the new law was likely due to the funding gap.
鈥淏ut there are many ways to augment the resources. I鈥檓 sure the government will know how to source funds in accordance with the Constitution,鈥� Panelo told reporters.
Describing the other newly signed laws, the President said the Revised Corporation Code 鈥渟implif[ies] corporate governance standards and establish[es] a more business friendly environment that will enable corporations and other judicial entities to thrive.鈥�
Bigger SSS income
The Social Security Act expands the investing capacity of the Social Security Commission, enabling it to generate bigger income for SSS members and pensioners, the President said.
The amended Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) charter, he said, strengthens the central bank鈥檚 financial capability and makes it more flexible in using its regulatory powers.
During the ceremony, the President also oversaw the turnover of a check for P4 billion in BSP dividends to the National Treasury. 鈥擶ith a report from Daphne Galvez