FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
Third Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Richard J. Gordon 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article XIII, Section 11 of the Constitution provides the state policy of adopting 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. 
However, our lack of focus on the health sector is evident as the total health budget 
only accounted for 2.38 percent of the national budget in 2009. The Philippine National 
Health Accounts (PNHA) 2005 also shows that the total health expenditure of the country 
reached P180.8 billion in 2005, growing at a slower rate of 9.4% compared to 11.9% in 
2004. The share of health expenditure to Gross Domestic Product was lower at 3.3% in 
2005 and still below the 5% standard set by the World Health Organization (WHO) for 
developing countries. 
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 
increased 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%. 
More than a decade has elapsed 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 bill seeks to address this by ensuring that all benefits under Republic Act No. 7875 are 
made available to every Filipino citizen. In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is 
earnestly sought. 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
Third Regular Session 
I 
Introduced by Senator , Richard J. Gordon 
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: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Mandatory Universal 
Healthcare Coverage of Every Filipino Act of 2009." 
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Filipino at affordable cost. 
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SEC. 3. Mandatory Universal Healthcare Coverage of Every Filipino. - Every 
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Filipino citizen shall be entitled to mandatory universal healthcare coverage by their 
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immediate and automatic inclusion to Philippine Health Insurance coverage and 
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membership as provided for under Republic Act No. 7875, as amended, otherwise known 
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as the "National Health Insurance Act of 1995". Accordingly, all the benefits under R.A.No. 
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7875 as amended shall also be made applicable and available to every Filipino citizen. 
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Provided, That contribution of indigent members shall be funded by the National 
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Government through the General Appropriations Act, without prejudice to other sources of 
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contribution. 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - Pursuant to Section 15, Article II of the Constitution 
the State hereby declares the policy of protecting and promoting the right to health of the 
people and instilling health consciousness among them. Towards this end, 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 every 
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SEC. 4. lmplemenfing Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of Health, in 
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coordination with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC) shall, within sixty (60) 
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days from the effectivity of this Act, promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the 
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' effective implementation of the provisions of this Act. 
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SEC.5. Separability Clause. - 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. 
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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. 
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SEC. 7. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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