Philippines President Aquino signs law for wider health cover for Filipinos

Manila: A new law expanding the government’s health cover has been signed by President Benigno Aquino to provide greater access to health care services.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Aquino signed the Republic Act on June 19, an amendment of the National Health Insurance Act of 1995. The move was aimed at ensuring that all Filipinos, especially disadvantaged people and those with disabilities, were provided with health care insurance coverage.

Under the new law, the state is mandated to provide comprehensive health care services to all Filipinos through a socialised health insurance programme.

“The new law provides that all citizens of the Philippines shall be covered by the National Health Insurance Programme [NHIP]. It shall ensure sustainability of coverage and continuous enhancement of the quality of services to people,” Valte said in a statement.

Under this revised cover, the health care needs of the underprivileged, sick and elderly, persons with disabilities, women and children will be given attention while free health care services will be provided to the neediest.

“The programme shall be compulsory in all provinces, cities and municipalities nationwide, notwithstanding the existence of local government unit-based health insurance programmes,” Valte said.

Prior to this new law, access to health insurance coverage has been limited to government employees, as well as private sector employees who pay compulsory or voluntary contributions as members of the state-run PhilHealth.

“Under the law, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, Department of Health, local government units, and other agencies including non-governmental organisations and other national government agencies shall ensure that members in localities shall have access to quality and cost-effective health care services,” she said.

Under the PhilHealth set up, members were provided health insurance coverage but had to pay for a portion of the cost for the treatment.

The expanded law came after Aquino’s appointment of lawyer Alexander Padilla as head of the PhilHealth.

Padilla was a former government peace negotiator in negotiations with the National Democratic Front-Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army.

Valte, in a press briefing last Wednesday, said Aquino had named Padilla as a member of the board of directors of PhilHealth and approved his nomination as the next president and chief executive officer of the agency.