COVID-19 response accelerated Universal Health Care law implementation —Duque

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Saturday said the Philippine government’s response to the COVID-19 crisis has accelerated the implementation of certain provisions of the Universal Health Care law.

“What the national government and the local governments had done in response to the COVID-19 pandemic... naging accelerator ang pandemic response to certain provisions of the UHC,” Duque said in a virtual forum in celebration of the “12.12” International Universal Health Coverage Day.

The Health chief cited the LGU engagement and social mobilization which were reinforced due to COVID-19 pandemic.

“I don’t think there was ever an experience or event of huge public health implication as the COVID-19 na ang national government at local government units talagang pinaigting ‘yung coordination, ‘yung collaboration, ‘yung synergy, ‘yung complementation tapos ‘yung ating clinical management improvements na-expand ang capaciity for isolation, prevention, testing, treatment and reintegration,” Duque said.

“Ang accelerated component ng UHC [are] enhanced epidemiology, surveillance system, disaster risk reduction management system, health promotion campaign... lahat ito napalakas na natin,” he added.

The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. was also able to hike the coverage and adjust pneumonia benefit packages for COVID-19 patients.

“Ang PhilHealth tinaas ang support. Dati P16,000 lang ang mild to moderate pneumonia package. Naging umabot ng P42,000 sa COVID benefit package. Ang severe nga P32,000 lang pero [ngayon] severe to critical umaabot anywhere from P333,000 to P786,000,” Duque said.

The PhilHealth last June recommended a general delay in the implementation of the UHC law over funding concerns. 

Malacañang rejected the proposal and said there was no legal basis for this. 

The UHC law, which automatically enrolls all Filipino citizens to the National Health Insurance Program, was enacted in February 2019.

The Health chief said the implementation of UHC law still has a long way to go, noting the recent issues that hounded the state health insurer.

“Repair the tattered image of PhilHealth. Pagtugon sa reports of fraudulent practices ng healthcare providers and raising awareness ng benefit rights,” he said. —KG, GMA News