SENATOR JV EJERCITO ON THE UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE LAW

Senator JV Ejercito sponsored and authored Senate Bill 1896, or the Universal Health Care (UHC), which automatically enrolls all Filipino citizens in the National Health Insurance Program and prescribes complementary reforms in the health system. Simply put, it gives all Filipinos access to health-care coverage and services while protecting them from enduring financial hardship as a result. 

Through this initiative, every Filipino citizen will be entitled to healthy living, working and schooling conditions, and access to a comprehensive set of health services without any financial hardships. 

UHC provides financial assistance for medical emergencies, hospital admission and all other medical routines that focus on treatment and rehabilitation. 

Senator JV wants to return to the Senate to make sure that the UHC Law will be properly implemented and enjoyed by all Filipinos, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

According to him, the pandemic has exacerbated the weaknesses of the country’s healthcare system and hampered the implementation of the UHC Law. He feels that it his mission and obligation to finish and oversee its implementation. 

He also said that the country’s healthcare system suffers from three major problems amidst the COVID-19 pandemic: inadequate healthcare facilities, delayed benefits and privileges for healthcare workers, and mismanagement of the PhilHealth program. All of these can be addressed by the full implementation of the UHC Law, he added.