THE government will abolish PhilHealth and replace it with the Philippine Health Security Office to cover health benefits to those who are contributory members as well as non-contributory indigents, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.
The House Bill 5784, approved by Congress, will provide for a universal health care for all Filipinos, which include lowering the cost of medicines, and the higher pay contribution to be shouldered by the government.
The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. was created in 1995 to implement universal health coverage in the Philippines.
According to the bill, all Filipinos are entitled to the benefits of the National Health Security Program, which will be the new name for the National Health Insurance Program.
The new bill states that all Filipinos will have universal health coverage, including those who are contributory members as well as non-contributory indigents, Roque said.
Roque told a press briefing the contributors would pay their respective premiums, while the national government would fully subsidize the contributions of the non-contributors.
“To receive health benefits does not mean that you are paying the premiums or you are a member of PhilHealth. You will get benefits because you are a Filipino and it is the obligation of the state to provide health benefits to all the Filipino people,” Roque said.
However, Roque explained the new National Health Insurance Program was not an insurance company since the contributors would pay their respective premiums, while the national government would fully subsidize the contributions of the non-contributors.
He said individuals and communities would get the “full spectrum” of health services they need: from health promotion to prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care.
“This includes in-patient, out-patient, and emergency care services encompassing preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative medical, dental, and mental health services,” he said.