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Funds for universal healthcare should come from taxes, UHC study group says

Philippines | National

Funds for universal healthcare should come from taxes, UHC study group says

By Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz

National Scientist and Ramon Magsaysay awardee Dr. Ernesto Domingo reiterated that the funding for universal healthcare should come from taxes collected by the government, and not from Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) premium collection alone.

(JANSEN ROMERO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)

"The role of PhilHealth is important but the source of what we spend for universal healthcare should be on government tax revenues," Domingo said in Filipino, in a virtual Palace press briefing on Monday, Feb. 15.

Domingo, who is also co-convener of the University of the Philippines-Universal Healthcare (UP-UHC) study group, said President Duterte is correct in seeking other funding sources for PhilHealth.

"All systems that use social health insurance are always at risk of going bankrupt," he pointed out.

"PhilHealth's funds should be used even if it is in danger of being depleted," he added.

Domingo said the real challenge in universal healthcare is how to fund and provide primary care services.

"Universal healthcare will not materialize until we have our primary care addressed first," he emphasized.

Domingo noted that around 2 percent to 5 percent of cases in a given population would need hospital care, but most illnesses can be treated following visits to doctors.

He also said that integration of local health systems is "very important" in the implementation of UHC Law, in order to forward the country's primary healthcare.

Section 19 of the UHC Law would require the integration of provincial, city-wide, and municipal hospitals, as well as rural health units, into provincial and city-wide health systems.

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