News Archive 2003
PhilHealth Supports HB 4110 - September 5, 2003
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) lauds the House of Representatives for vigorously working for the passage of House Bill 4110 or the Reproductive Health Bill which will redound to the improvement of the country’s health care delivery system.
In a position paper, PhilHealth President and CEO Dr. Francisco T. Duque III said PhilHealth “...poses no objection to its passage” and cited facts that can be used in the ongoing discussions on the proposed bill.
For one, Duque said, among the top ten common causes of confinement of PhilHealth members are reproductive health in nature including such procedures as C/S low cervical, episiorraphy and D/C abortion. At the same time, Duque said, PhilHealth compensates for vasectomy and tubal ligation.
“We believe that giving importance to reproductive health will bring about a healthier citizenry, thus decreasing the burden on health care spending including social health insurance,” Duque stressed.
He also proposed that PhilHealth be made part of the proposed Reproductive Health Management Council (RHMC) which HB 4110 intends to create. “If the RHMC is created, then other family planning procedures that it may endorse may be further studied by PhilHealth for possible inclusion in its benefit package for members.”
The PhilHealth chief expressed optimism that Congress will be able to pass laws that are truly responsive to the health care needs of Filipinos.