GOOD NEW! President Rodrigo Duterte signs the Universal Health Care Act making all Filipinos automatic members of Philhealth.
President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday signed into law a landmark bill that guarantees all Filipinos equal access to quality and affordable goods and services in healthcare.
Duterte signed the Universal Health Care Act during a ceremony in Malacañang. 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 appropriations of only P217 billion under the proposed 2019 national budget. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III earlier said the funding gap of P40 billion would mean not all hospitals or health centers as envisioned under the law would be constructed.
