Health and social protection network on feuding senators: Pass amendments to Philhealth Law!

With only five remaining session days before Congress adjourns sine die, a network of health and transformative social protection advocates are urging the feuding senators to put on the agenda Committee Report No. 40/Senate Bill No. 2849, the bill amending the Philhealth Law.

Some 30 organizations including the Ayos na Gamot sa Abot-Kayang Presyo (AGAP) coalition, the Coalition for Health Advocacy and Transparency (CHAT) and the Kampanya para sa Makataong Pamumuhay (KAMP) have signed a statement asking the Senate to pass SB 2849 which they claim would help achieve universal health care in the country.

“You may be fighting each other on pork and perks, but don’t forget your obligation as legislators to provide people universal health care,” stated KAMP lead convenor Ana Maria R. Nemenzo.

Nemenzo said the Constitution guarantees the right to health of every Filipino by providing essential goods, health and other services affordable to them.

Health insurance under Philhealth is just one among the many measures needed to ensure universal health care to all Filipinos. Aside from Philhealth coverage, KAMP is also pushing for a more comprehensive, tax-based universal health care where health services are provided based on needs and not on patient’s capacity to pay.

Nemenzo explained further that the National Health Insurance Program has been in place for more than ten (10) years now and yet, many Filipinos still do not have social health insurance coverage.

“This sad reality is one of the major reasons why many of our poor countrymen do not receive even the basic medical services and die without seeing a doctor,” added Nemenzo.

Atty. Paula Tanquieng of AGAP/CHAT pointed out that coverage expansion is what the proposed measure seeks to address by ensuring that the poorest of the poor of the Philippine population are captured and enrolled in the program with premium payments fully subsidized by the national and local governments.

She added that the bill also seeks to guarantee that the growing members of the informal economy who are working in health-risk environments such as the pedicab drivers, street peddlers, porters and even farmers and fisherfolks, be made part of the government’s health insurance program.

Moreover, the legislation aims to address the issues of proper utilization of funds for the betterment of benefits, elimination of fraud in the system, and measures to reduce out-of-pocket expenses.

PRESS RELEASE
Kampanya para sa Makataong Pamumuhay (KAMP)
29 January 2013

Refs: Ana Maria R. Nemenzo
Mobile: 0918-903 8687
KAMP Lead Convenor
Atty. Paula Tanquieng
AGAP/CHAT
Mobile: 09053263221

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