Malasakit Bill not in conflict with the UHC Law—House leader
By Rica Arevalo
Published Nov 14, 2019 04:09 pm
By Charissa Luci-Atienza
Quezon Rep. Angelina Tan, chairman of the House Committee on Health, assured on Thursday that the bill seeking to create Malasakit Centers would not be in conflict with the “Universal Health Care (UHC) Law”.
Quezon Rep. Angelina “Helen” Tan (YOUTUBE / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
She said the “Malasakit” bill being pushed in Congress would in fact “complement” the government’s implementation of the UHC program.
“There is no conflict. Actually, this will complement the UHC Law. We made sure that there is no overlapping,” she said in an interview, after the technical working group meeting of the House Committee on Health on measures seeking to modernize the regulation of health facilities and services.
“The bill will not affect the UHC law,” the House leader said.
During a recent congressional briefing, DOH Undersecretary Mario Villaverde also made the same assurance, explaining that the measure would not be in conflict with the intent of the UHC Law.
"There is actually no conflict between the Universal Health Care Act and the Malasakit Bill. We are actually supporting the crafting so that it becomes complementary or supplement to the Universal Health Care Act, but generally the Malasakit Center is limited to the assistance to the patient, navigation of the patient in terms of financial risk protection as well as the responsiveness of our healthcare providers,” he told the House members.
“The bill is not in conflict with the intent of the Universal Health Care Act,” Villaverde said.
On Wednesday, the House of Representatives approved the measure on second reading; two days after the Senate approved its version of the measure on third and final reading.
It is expected that the House will approve the measure on third and final reading next week.
Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman has accused the House leadership of railroading the Malasakit substitute bill to House Bill 5477.
According to him, the substitute bill was a carbon copy of the Senate Bill No. 1076, authored by Senator Bong Go, which was approved on November 11.
Quezon Rep. Angelina “Helen” Tan (YOUTUBE / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
She said the “Malasakit” bill being pushed in Congress would in fact “complement” the government’s implementation of the UHC program.
“There is no conflict. Actually, this will complement the UHC Law. We made sure that there is no overlapping,” she said in an interview, after the technical working group meeting of the House Committee on Health on measures seeking to modernize the regulation of health facilities and services.
“The bill will not affect the UHC law,” the House leader said.
During a recent congressional briefing, DOH Undersecretary Mario Villaverde also made the same assurance, explaining that the measure would not be in conflict with the intent of the UHC Law.
"There is actually no conflict between the Universal Health Care Act and the Malasakit Bill. We are actually supporting the crafting so that it becomes complementary or supplement to the Universal Health Care Act, but generally the Malasakit Center is limited to the assistance to the patient, navigation of the patient in terms of financial risk protection as well as the responsiveness of our healthcare providers,” he told the House members.
“The bill is not in conflict with the intent of the Universal Health Care Act,” Villaverde said.
On Wednesday, the House of Representatives approved the measure on second reading; two days after the Senate approved its version of the measure on third and final reading.
It is expected that the House will approve the measure on third and final reading next week.
Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman has accused the House leadership of railroading the Malasakit substitute bill to House Bill 5477.
According to him, the substitute bill was a carbon copy of the Senate Bill No. 1076, authored by Senator Bong Go, which was approved on November 11.