Senate OKs universal health care bill on third and final reading

Voting 14-0, the Senate on Wednesday approved on third and final reading the Universal Health Care Bill seeking to guarantee all Filipinos equal access to quality and affordable health goods and services.

Earlier in the day, the chamber had received a certification from President Rodrigo Duterte that the bill is urgent.

In a letter addressed to Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Duterte certified the necessity of the immediate enactment of Senate Bill 1896 “to address the urgent need for an affordable, comprehensive, and quality health care program that is accessible to all Filipinos.”

The Senate approved the bill on second reading Tuesday evening. The chamber was able to do away with the three-day rule because of the certification.

Malacañang welcomed the development.

"We thank the Senate for passing on third and final reading the landmark Universal Health Care Bill," said presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, a proponent of the bill when he was still Kabayan party-list representative.

"The prioritization of the Universal Health Care Bill bespeaks of the Duterte administration’s unrelenting commitment to provide the marginalized and disadvantaged with sufficient and better health care services," he added.

Under the bill, all Filipino citizens will automatically be enrolled into the National Health Insurance Program either as direct contributor (those who have the capacity to pay premiums) or indirect contributor (those sponsored by the government such as indigents and senior citizens).

The bill also seeks to expand the PhilHealth coverage to include free consultation fees, laboratory tests and other diagnostic services.

Under the bill, Filipino residents can avail of  primary health care services even without the PhilHealth Identification Cards. Those not enrolled in the PhilHealth once the measure becomes a law could still avail the health care services since the premium subsidy will be gradually adjusted and included in the General Appropriations Act (GAA).

The bill also calls for the improvement of doctor-to-patient ratio; the upgrading of hospital bed capacities and equipment; and the establishment of hospitals in remote areas.

The Department of Health has pegged the doctor-to-patient ratio at 1 for every 33,000, while bed to population ratio was pegged at 1 to 1,121. In Metro Manila, the bed to population ratio is 1 to 591, while bed to population ratio in the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao is 1:4,200.

Under the bill, all graduates of health-related courses from state universities and colleges or government-funded scholarship programs will be required to serve for at least three years in the public sector.

“Sa ilalim ng Universal Health Care, ang bawat Pilipino ay hindi na kailangang mangamba sa tuwing sila o ang miyembro ng pamilya ay magkakasakit dahil aayusin at palalakasin natin ang pagbibigay ng serbisyo lalo na sa mga Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs),” said Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito, the bill's sponsor.

“Hindi na po magiging problema ang gastos sa pagpapagamot dahil awtomatikong isasama at magiging miyembro ang bawat Pilipino ng Philhealth. Hindi na din po isipin ang kakulangan ng mga doktor, nurse, at iba pang health workers dahil popondohan at pagtitibayin natin ang mga benepisyo para sa kanila,” he added.

Ejercito earlier cited records from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showing that Filipinos spent around P6,345 for their health needs in 2016, or 8.7 percent higher from P5,840 health expenditure in 2015.

He said that the majority of Filipinos consult a doctor only when their illnesses have worsened, due to the lack of government support of health care. — with a report by Virgil Lopez/BM, GMA News