The Department of Health (DOH) launched here on Thursday the implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) which aims to deliver quality, accessible and affordable health services to all Filipinos.

The DOH, in partnership with the provincial government of Tarlac and Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), launched the UHC at the Jose V. Yap Sports and Recreational Complex in fulfillment of Republic Act No. 11223, otherwise known as the Universal Health Care Law of 2019.

DOH regional director Cesar Cassion, in his message during the event, cited the importance of concerted and collaborative effort to achieve the goal of universal health care.

“Everyone has an important role as an agent of change,” Cassion said as he asked for more support from stakeholders and partners.

He said a health care system should be appropriate, adequate, relevant to the people’s situation and responsive to their needs.

Governor Susan Yap, on the other hand, vowed her administration’s full support to the implementation of the Universal Health Care Act.

“We will be working on the health programs and ensure that all rural health units are at par. We will be strengthening the primary health care by improving our existing barangay health stations,” she said.

“Our objective is to better our health services, fill in the gaps—in terms of budget allocation, human resources—and improve service delivery. We are going to put higher standards in our health services,” she added.

The UHC launching serves as the orientation for local chief executives, health professional groups, and concerned non-government organizations on how the law will be implemented.

PhilHealth representatives laid down the guidelines on how medical services will be made available for free under the UHC policy.

Under the law, each Filipino will be assigned to a primary care provider (health worker) who shall be the first contact of health care.

Primary care providers will deliver free essential health services and will guide patients through different health care facilities.

All Filipinos will also be automatic members of PhilHealth as direct or indirect contributors and shall be eligible to No Balance Billing once admitted to basic or ward accommodations in hospitals.

Availability of basic ward accommodation in all facilities will be ensured through prescribed basic-private bed ratios—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. (PNA)