WHO hails passage of PHL universal healthcare bill into law

The World Health Organization (WHO) lauds the Philippine government for passing into law the universal healthcare bill seeking to ensure equal access to quality healthcare among Filipinos.

In a statement, the WHO welcomes the development "as it is an excellent proof of commitment to improving access to high quality health services at the least cost to families."

"We commend the Philippines for taking this step in the right direction," it added.

According to WHO, the new law is a "critical step" towards health for all Filipinos as it will facilitate "major reforms to consolidate existing yet fragmented financial flows, increase the fiscal space for benefit delivery, improve the governance and performance of devolved local health systems and institutionalize support mechanisms such as health technology assessment and health promotion."

WHO vowed to support the Department of Health and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) in drafting the implementing rules and regulations for the newly-signed law.

"It is crucial for the operational guidelines to properly demonstrate the political commitment for all Filipinos to know more about their health, be provided with healthy living conditions, be protected from hazards and risks that could affect their health while also avoiding financial hardship," WHO said.

It also stressed that the law must be adequately funded so that the "promises" under it would materialize.

"The evidence is clear and incontrovertible: further increases in tobacco excise taxes is a win-win solution that will save lives by supporting UHC and reducing the number of Filipino smokers at the same time."

President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Universal Health Care Act during a ceremony in Malacañang on Wednesday.

Under the law, all Filipino citizens are automatically enrolled into the National Health Insurance Program as direct contributors or those who have the capacity to pay premiums, and indirect contributors sponsored by the government such as indigents and senior citizens.

It has a funding requirement of P257 billion, but was given an allocation of only P217 billion under the proposed 2019 national budget. —Anna Felicia Bajo/LBG, GMA News