ANGARA: UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE LAW A STEP TOWARDS BUILDING HEALTHIER PH

Reelectionist Senator Sonny Angara hailed the enactment of the Universal Health Care Act as an important step towards building a healthier Philippines where people have access to quality health services without exposing them to financial hardship.

"Every Filipino is now assured of access to good quality preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative health services without the risk of financial hardship when paying for them," Angara said, following President Duterte's signing of the UHC bill into law.

"Unti-unti na nating nakakamit ang ating adhikain na dapat ay walang Pilipinong nagigipit tuwing nagkakasakit," added the lawmaker, who is running under the platform "Alagang Angara."

As one of the authors of the law, Angara pushed for the inclusion of free preventive health care services, such as free check-up, laboratory tests and medicines, to help people to remain healthy and to detect any health-related problems early when they may be easier to treat.

According to the legislator, giving Filipinos access to preventive health care services will reduce hospitalization and improve the health of those with non-communicable or lifestyle diseases long before their conditions become catastrophic.

"Overall, this law will give Filipinos better chance of survival from illnesses," Angara pointed out.

The new law, he said, would encourage more people, especially those living in far-flung villages to get regular medical check-up.

In the Philippines, it is not uncommon for residents of remote villages to never have seen a doctor from birth to death, Angara noted.

"Since they are used to not having a doctor in the community, consulting for an ailment is usually put off until the condition get worse and treatment comes too late," Angara lamented.

The Universal Health Care Act aims to ensure that every Filipino will have access to appropriate, affordable and quality health services.

Under the law, all Filipinos shall be automatically included in the National Health Insurance Program and will be entitled to preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative health services.