THE PHILIPPINE STAR

e THE PHILIPPINE STAR

&. gtews . MONDAY I SEpTEtIBER 23,2019

effiH fEmeEcacs trffiErrerseE keeE€h

-yi::-::|"T.
""-r{i.rT"C of
The Departrnent
" Health
,"i1""1"i1,#I;'::'.T;'.'ffi1*:*'*
the DOH' how much exactly -would the
{o6?il i-pr"-
ti.," TILIC program requ'e in its tust year of
tion i n 2020'
ti"-rliig ;r"r -aiegulations imnlement a Speaker Mi]'ee.Romero of
(IRR) for the exparded oruni- *beputy Cayetano's plan
;t"#l;ih A" G-rrrc) pro- to. provide enough {undo
1-Pac-n-ran suPported
for expand-
which starts in Janudry.
"sram,
"They are now putting fin- ed heallrl servlces
Ii{R.1h"v "we passedmedical therlHC law with aprom-
"hj.;;-d""h";;;it'" ise to expand carc' It is imPortant
have sought our comments' that rve deliver on Lhdt promise by ap-
'which we have just submitted propriating the nececsar-y funds," he said.
along with our recommenda- Romero said a lot o[ Filipinos nol cov-
tions," Quezon Rep. Angelina ered by government-{und ed insurance
Tan, who chairs the commiflee throueh [-'e Philipphe HeaJLh Insurarce
on health oI the House of Rep- Corp.fPhilHealtlifexpect to benefit from
resentatives, said yesterday. t}le UHC law and enjoy free basicmedical
She said she was satisfied attention inboth government and pdvate
uith Lhe rules draJted bv tle hosDitals.
DOH in consuitation with tie saidJhe qrovision of free medical
services, aside ?rom being a health pro-
heallh seclor siakeholders. gram, is a poverly reduction meacure.
far said aJt}ough rhe LltlC law gives - "lf members of a poor tami)Y are
tJr e deparhn en t r-ur ti I the end of rhis m o nl l r healthV, the\ carr Bo to school l{ one or
to come out with the rules, the agenry two of them finish high school or col-
would most likely issue them before Oct. lege and gel employed, they can helP
15. lift their Iamily from poverly," Romero
"I am supporling lheir progressive added.
realization targel because that's i^-hat He oointed out that based on the ex-
the Iaw provides." lan, a physician, perienie of countries with high incidence
added. oI povertv in the past, social proiection
Health Secretary Francisco Duque measures'lile Free healLh care and cash
lll earlier told congressmen that a grants are effective poverty allevialion
national UHC rollout next year was initiatives .

not possible due to lack of funds and "We hope to significantly reduce out
oersonnel. present poverty incidence of 23 percent
' IL would also tdke lime Lo achieve lhe with our orlrt social protecfion measures
mandate of the lau' to integrate national like UHC, and the Pantawid Pamilyarg
and local health services, he said. Pilioino
- Program or 4Ps," Romero said.
ih" prop8."d 2020 national budget the
House aprrroved on I hird ard final read-
ing la.t'Fi-lday includes lloo billion {or
.T]FIC.
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