RESIDENTS of Tarlac province now will have an access to a higher
quality and affordable health care services as the Provincial
Government of Tarlac in partnership with the Department of Health
[DoH] and the Philippine Health Insurance [PhilHealth] launched the
Universal Health Care [UHC] at the Jose V. Yap Sports and Recreational
Complex in San Jose town.
The launching of UHC in Tarlac province is in fulfillment of RA
No. 11223 or the Universal Health Care Act which aimed to provide
equal access to quality health services and facilities, the provincial
government said.
The launching, which was attended by Regional DoH Director
Cesar Cassion, Tarlac second district Representative Victor Yap, the
different mayors of the province, board members, provincial government
doctors, representatives from the DoH and PhilHealth and barangay
health workers.
Gov. Susan Yap vowed full support to the implementation of UHC.
“We at the PGT will ensure that all our rural health units are at par.
We will be strengthening the primary health care by improving our
barangay health stations,” the governor said. She added that the
objective is to “better our health services, fill in the gaps—in
terms of budget allocation, human resources—and improve service
delivery. We are going to put higher standards in our health
services.”
Cesar Cassion, Regional director DOH cited the importance of concerted
effort to achieve the goal.
PhilHealth representatives laid down the guidelines on how medical
services will be made available for free under UHC policy.
Under the law, each Filipino will be assigned to a primary care
provider who shall be the first contact of health care.
Primary care providers will deliver free essential health services and
will guide patients through different health care facilities.
All Filipinos will also be automatic members of PhilHealth as direct
or indirect contributors and shall be eligible to No Balance Billing
once admitted to basic or ward accommodations in hospitals.