KRISTINE JOY M.

LALIO

ENGLISH 4

A GLIMPSE OF UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE ACT

Sickness and diseases are the common enemies of our body. One can’t function properly and
less productive as the body is deteriorating. As stated by P.T. Barnum, “The foundation of success in
life is good health: that is the substratum fortune; it is also the basis of happiness. A person cannot
accumulate fortune very well when he is sick.” Having said this, the enactment of the Universal
Health Care Law guarantees equitable access to quality and affordable health care services for all
Filipinos.

Universal Health Care Act is a measure that would provide health care coverage for all Filipinos.
This act grants them “immediate eligibility” and access to full spectrum of health services. Through
this, the government will implement several reforms in the Philippine health care system.

Now let’s talk about its advantages and how, we, Filipinos can benefit from it.

First, all Filipinos will be automatically enrolled in health insurance which is PhilHealth. This
means that PhilHealth Identification Card is not required in the availment of any health services.

Second, expanded PhilHealth coverage. This Act will add preventive health services to existing
PhilHealth benefits such as free consultation fees, laboratory tests, and other diagnostic procedures.
Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III said that the law will change the
country’s present health care system from being “used to taking care of the sick to one that is used
to keeping people health.”

Third, simplified PhilHealth membership. It will be divided into two classifications, the direct and
indirect contributors. Direct contributors refer to those who have the capacity to pay premiums and
failure to pay shall not prevent the enjoyment of the PhilHealth benefits while indirect contributors
refer to those sponsored by the government such as indigents, senior citizens, and persons with
disabilities.

Last, better health care access and quality in the Philippines. According to DOH data, there are
33,000 patients per doctor and 1,121 patients per hospital bed in the Philippines. Because of this,
the Universal Health Care Act will seek to improve the doctor-to-patient ratio and upgrade hospital
bed capacities and equipment. Poor Filipinos who are located in geographically isolated areas will
also be given priority when ensuring access to health services. It also requires all graduates of
health-related courses from state universities and colleges or government-funded scholarship
programs to serve for three years in the public sector.

On the other hand, it also has its disadvantages.

First, within a system of universal health care, doctors are often assigned more patients than
they can usually handle. They rush through the interview and diagnostic process, looking for the
most likely explanation of bothersome symptoms instead of offering a thorough exam.

Last, it can limit new technologies because there is such a drive to keep costs down, innovation
can fall behind in a universal system. That is because there is less funding available to research new
technologies within the field. Over time, the lack of funding in research and development could
actually cost more lives than are saved by the expanded access to care.

The amount necessary to implement this Act shall be sourced from the total incremental sin tax
collections, fifty percent from the income of the Philippine Amusement Gaming Corporation, forty
percent from the charity fund of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, premium contributions of
members, annual appropriations of the DOH, and national government subsidy to PhilHealth.

To sum it up, this Act means that all Filipinos get the health care they need, when they need it,
without suffering financial hardship as a result. Although there are much work to be done to
implement the UHC act, it takes a critical step towards achieving health for all in the Philippines. It is
a new dawn for health care and real progress towards achieving UHC.