UHC Bill to be signed into law this year

Senator Joseph Victor G. Ejercito, chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, is upbeat that the Universal Health Care (UHC) Bill, which will give access to all Filipinos for automatic inclusion in the National Health Insurance Program of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), will be signed into law before the year ends.

“The Universal Health Care bycam, hopefully by November 19 we will ratify it and we will forward both bills to the President upon ratification. Ang target [is] December it will [be] signed into law by the President,” Ejercito said on Tuesday during a press conference at Grand Regal Hotel.

Last week, October 10, the Senate Bill No. 1896 was approved with 14 affirmative votes, no negative vote, and no abstention. The bill was certified by the President as urgent.

“It is giving Filipinos access to good quality health care. Pag nakapasa na ang Universal Health Care at napirmahan na, it will now be 100 percent coverage to all Filipinos basta Pilipino ka automatic ikaw ay miymebro na ng health insurance or Philhealth,” Ejercito said.

He, who sponsored the bill, said should this be finally ratified and signed into law, it will facilitate the improvement of hospital facilities to give the public quality health care services without breaking their banks.