A revisiting of the implementation of the Universal Health Care Act will be one of the priorities of independent senatorial candidate Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson, should he earn a seat in the Senate this May.
Lacson said that while the UHC Act which was signed in 2019 should have ensured accessible and high-quality health care for all Filipinos, its implementation is still “wanting” since this has not yet happened.
“The UHC Act was passed into law in 2019, but its implementation is wanting. In the exercise of oversight, we must revisit the full implementation of the law,” he said.
He said this oversight function will likely be exercised during the deliberation of the yearly budget.
Related: Ping Lacson, Rerepasuhin ang Pagpapatupad ng Universal Health Care Act Kung Makabalik sa Senado
Lacson said it is unacceptable that up to now, Filipinos still do not have access to universal health care.
“So we will make sure that in the exercise of our oversight function or mandate, especially during the budget deliberation, we ensure the proper funding in the implementation of our laws,” he added.
Lacson has long pushed for the full and proper implementation of the Universal Health Care Act, so the Philippines can have a barangay-level health care system that can at least approximate the efficient health care system in Cuba.
This can be done by ensuring the proper funding of the UHC Act, such that it will cover all Filipinos in all barangays. Lacson intends to help achieve this by scrutinizing the budget.
“We want to make sure the UHC Act covers all barangays. When we are stuck at the low end, we are just having pilot programs in selected barangays. But when we go to full implementation, we cover all barangays,” he added.
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Ping Lacson, Rerepasuhin ang Pagpapatupad ng Universal Health Care Act Kung Makabalik sa Senado
Rerepasuhin ni independent senatorial candidate Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson ang pagpapatupad ng Universal Health Care Act kung sakaling makabalik siya sa Senado ngayong Mayo.
Ani Lacson, bagama’t abot-kaya na dapat sa lahat ang high-quality na health care dahil sa UHC Act na pinirmahan noon pang 2019, hindi pa ito nakakamtan dahil sa mahinang pagpapatupad.
“Matagal nang pinasa ang UHC Act but implementation is wanting… In the exercise of oversight, dapat talagang tingnan natin ang full implementation of the UHC Act,” aniya.
Dagdag ni Lacson, ang oversight function na ito ay malamang na gagawin sa pagbalangkas ng Senado sa taunang pambansang budget.
Ani Lacson, hindi katanggap-tanggap na hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin abot-kamay para sa lahat na Pilipino ang universal health care.
“So we’ll make sure in the exercise of our oversight function or mandate, especially during the budget deliberation, kunan natin ng pondo ang pangangailangan para maka-comply sa batas na pinasa ng Kongreso,” aniya.
Matagal nang itinutulak ni Lacson ang tamang pagpapatupad ng Universal Health Care Act para magkaroon ng barangay-level health care system na tulad ng sa Cuba.
Magagawa lamang ito kung siguradong tama ang pagpopondo para sa UHC Act, para masakop ang lahat ng Pilipino sa lahat ng barangay. Balak gawin ito ni Lacson sa pamamagitan ng pagbusisi sa budget.
“Yan, pinagsusumikapan namin na ang UHC Act para mga health center at lahat na barangay ma-cover. Kasi pagka sa low-end tayo, parang pina-pilot mo lang mga barangays, namimili kung saan i-implement. Pero kung mapunta sa full implementation, ma-cover ang lahat na barangay,” aniya.
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