FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )

First Regular Session )
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

House Bill No._937

Introduced by Representative Susan A. Yap

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article XIIL, Section 11 of the Constitution states that,

‘The State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to
health development which shall endeavor to make essential goods, health and
other social services available to all the people at affordable cost. There shall be
priority for the needs of the under-privileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women,
and children. The State shall endeavor to provide free medical care to paupers.

However, because of government's lack of prioritization of the health sector, we are falling
shott of out objective to provide universal quality health care. Take for example out record in Goals
4 and 5 of the Millennium Development Goals (Reduce Child Mortality and Maternal Health): every
day, 70 infants and 10 mothers die due to pregnancy and childbirth complications. These are clear
manifestations that majority of our people are out of reach of our health care system.

Since the enactment of Republic Act No. 7875, otherwise known as the "National Health
Insurance Act of 1995," mandating that affordable health care coverage be made available to all
citizens, the country is far from the target. The share of government on health expenditure declined
to 29% which is below the target of 40% based on the Health Sector Reform Agenda (HSRA).

Also, the government's target of less dependence on out-of-pocket payments and providing
‘more social health insurance is still far from being realized as the share of out-of-pocket payments
even incteased to 49% while the share of social insurance payments increased only slightly to 11% in
2005. Based on the HSRA, the target for out-of. pocket is 20% while the target for social insurance is
30%. Philhealth proudly reported that, as of 2009, they have 20 million members. Our total
population now is 96 million.

To arrest the widening of this gap, government must institutionalize a universal health care
system through social insurance. Everybody should be prepared to partake in this collective
obligation to ensure the health of every body in our country. No one should be left out, and no one
will be left out.

In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of the bill is earnestly sought.



FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )

First Regular Session )
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

House Bill No. 937

Introduced by Representative Susan A. Yap

AN ACT
TO ENSURE THAT EVERY FILIPINO IS GRANTED WITH BASIC HEALTHCARE
SERVICES, PROVIDING FOR THE PURPOSE A MANDATORY UNIVERSAL
HEALTHCARE COVERAGE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1, Short Title - This Act shall be know
Coverage of Every Filipino Act of 2010."

s the "Mandatory Universal Healtheare

SSC, 2, Declaration of Policy. - Pusu
hereby declares the policy of protecting
instilling health consciousness amon,
and compreh
health and other social serv

t to Section 15, Article II of the Constitution the State
d_ promoting the right to health of the people and
them, Towards this end, the State shall adopt an integrated
sive approach to health development, which shall endeavor to make essential goods,
‘lable to every Filipino at affordable cost.

SEC. 3, Mandatory Universal Healthcare Coverage of Livery Vitipina. ~ twery Filipino citizen shall
be entitled to mandatory univ healthcare coverage by their immediate and automatic inclusion
to Philippine Health Insurance coverage and membership as provided for under Republic Act No.

‘875, as amended, otherwise known as the "National Health Insurance Act of 1995", Accordingly,
all the benefits under R.A.No. 7875 as amended shall also be made applicable and available to every
Filipino citizen. Provided, That contribution of indigent members shall be funded by the National
Government through the General Appropriations Act, without prejudice to other sources of
contribution.

SEC, 4, Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of Health, in coordination with the
Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC) shall, within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of
this Act, promulgate the ne ind regulations for the effective implementation of the
provisions of this Act.

ary rules

SEC.5. Separability Clance. - If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid,
the provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SEC. 6, Repealing Clause. - All laws, including R.A. No. 7875 as amended, decrees, orders,
rules and regulations or other issuance inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed, amended or modified accordingly

SEC. 7. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
vo (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,