The IRR would guide the DoH and its partner-agencies in implementing the landmark law.

Healthy life for all Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III in company of legislators signs the implementing rules and regulations of the Universal Health Care law that makes it effective. BOB DUNGO JR.

The landmark Universal Health Care (UHC) Law, or Republic Act 11223, that seeks to provide free medical services to all Filipinos, particularly the poor, is ready for activation after Department of Health (DoH) Secretary Francisco Duque III signed yesterday its implementing rules and regulations (IRR).

In his address at the ceremonial signing in Manila, Duque said the IRR would be the first step “to the creation of a health system that works for all.”

“We will begin with a change in perspective where health care is more than treating patients in our facilities. The health system will actively improve the health literacy, the health environment, the social determinants of health of every Filipino,” he said.

The IRR would guide the DoH and its partner agencies in implementing the landmark law.

Duque said the numerous health problems, such as vaccine access, could hopefully be addressed through the UHC Law. He likewise raised the possibility of renationalizing the country’s health system, which was devolved under the 1991 Local Government Code.

Under the measure, 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.

On 20 February, President Rodrigo Duterte signed the UHC Law, which ensures that every Filipino, including overseas Filipino workers, are eligible to preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative care.

It was former Sen. JV Ejercito who shepherded the UHC bill until it was enacted into a law.

Under the law, all Filipino citizens are automatically enrolled into the government’s health insurance program.

Members who have the capacity to pay are considered direct contributors, while the indigents and senior citizens are categorized as indirect contributors and are sponsored by the government.

“The health system must actively improve the health literacy, the built environment, and the social determinants of health of every Filipino,” explained Duque. “It should be a system that seeks and cares for Juan and Juana every day throughout their lives, not just when they are sick.”

The Health secretary also said with the UHC, the delivery of optimum and quality health services will be achieved through capacity building of human resources for health and improved access to medicines and commodities by way of transparent pricing.

According to Duque, each Filipino will be assigned a primary care provider (health worker) who shall be their first contact for health care.

“Primary care providers will deliver free essential health services and will guide patients through the different health care facilities,” Duque said.

He also noted that the availability of basic ward accommodation in all health facilities will be ensured through prescribed basic patient to bed ratios of 90:10 for public health facilities, 70:30 for public specialty health facilities and a minimum of 10:90 for private health facilities.

With UHC, the delivery of optimum and quality health services will be achieved through capacity-building of human resources for health and improved access to medicines and commodities by way of transparent pricing, according to Duque.

With all these promising improvements in the health system, the DoH reminds every Filipino to be cognizant of their role as agents of change, equally responsible for their own health.

Funding for the program would partly come from the proposed P45 excise tax on electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes).

Finance Undersecretary Karl Chua said the proposed excise tax on e-cigarettes is expected to bring in an additional P2 billion to P2.5 billion to government coffers on the measure’s first year of implementation.

Legislator sees the need to impose an excise tax on e-cigarette due to mounting evidence of its health risks.

“There’s an increasing evidence that justifies the use of taxation to pursue precautionary principle for national health welfare,” he said.