MANILA – Malacañang called on the Senate on Wednesday to pass a measure on the Universal Health Care.
President Rodrigo Duterte, during his third State of the Nation Address on Monday, “has sent a clear, loud, and unequivocal message regarding universal health care to Congress,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said.
“Universal health care should be prioritized,” Roque quoted Duterte as saying.
“The House has done its part. It’s time for the Senate to do the same,” the Palace official added.
Roque was one of the proponents of House Bill 5784 when he was still a party-list representative.
The measure would allow all Filipinos to access quality health care services regardless of their socioeconomic status, he said.
“Napakalaking ginhawa ito para sa bawat Pilipino, lalo na sa mga mahihirap,” said Roque. “Basta Pilipino ka, obligado ang gobyerno na bigyan ng benepisyo na pangkalusugan.”
“Hindi magiging isyu ang kapasidad ninyo magbayad – importante lang ay ipinanganak kang Pilipino,” he added.
Under House Bill 5784, the “Philippine Health Security Corp.” will replace the Philippine Health Insurance Corp., or PhilHealth, as the sole purchaser of health services in the country.
The bill also provides for the adoption and institutionalization of a periodic Health Technology Assessment and the creation of the Health Technology Assessment Council./PN
