Universal Health Care launched in Cebu

EBU CITY – The Universal Health Care (UHC) Law will protect every Filipino from the risk of financial burden in seeking medical treatment, said Secretary Michael Lloyd Dino, Presidential Assistant for the Visayas, at the launching of the UHC Law in Cebu. He said the national government’s two-pronged health-care assistance self-medication or consultation health care program from the national government, from quack doctors to avoid having will give citizens access to the the other one being the to pay huge amounts for the full continuum of health services Malasakit Center. doctor’s fee and hospital bills. they need, while protecting Dino lauded the Duterte This malady, he said, has resulted them from enduring financial administration for making Cebu in increasing morbidity rate hardship as a result. one of the UHC integration sites over the years.

Health Secretary Francisco in the country. “Both the Universal Health Duque III and Governor Gwendolyn “I would like to congratulate Care Law and the Malasakit Center Garcia signed the memorandum the Department of Health Act will work to the people’s advantage. of understanding headed by Secretary Duque for We are lucky to have such (MOU) shortly after announcing the efficient implementation of a strong-willed President and I’m the official start of UHC the Universal Health Care Law sure that we all feel his sincerity program in the province, in a with its implementing rules and that is why he has the highest trust ceremony at the Cebu Provincial regulations signed last year in and public approval ratings at 83 Capitol’s social hall. October and I believe congratulations and 87 percent respectively in the

Duque said the UHC implementation are also in order for last quarter of 2019,” he said. in Cebu will be Secretary Duque for having the “And it gives me pleasure done in a progressive scheme. highest awareness and performance knowing that the people here The implementation here will rating among Cabinet in the Visayas have seen and focus first on assessing and capacitating members for 2019,” he said. felt this administration’s programs every level of healthcare Dino said the President has and initiatives which facilities in the towns and observed that many of the poor gave the President a 93-percent cities in the province. have been avoiding medical performance rating in Visayas

With the UHC program, treatment because of financial for the same period,” he added. Dino said Cebuanos now have constraints and many turn to (John Rey Saavedra)