On February 20, 2019, Pres. Rodrigo R. Duterte signed into law Republic Act No. 11223 (R.A. 11223) entitled “An Act Instituting Universal Health Care For All Filipinos, Prescribing Reforms in the Health Care Systems, And Appropriating Funds Therefore”.
R.A 11223 or The Universal Health Care Act is enacted pursuant to “the policy of the state to protect and promote the right to health of all Filipinos and instill health consciousness among them.”
It adopts the following policies, to wit:
The following are the objectives in enacting R.A 11223 :
The Universal Health Care Act mandates that “every Filipino will be granted immediate eligibility and access to promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative care for medical, dental, mental and emergency health services”. It also decrees that the program membership for the National Health Insurance Program be simplified to direct contributors and indirect contributors.
Republic Act 11223 was published last February 21, 2019 and takes effect on March 8, 2019. You can view or download the full text of R.A. 11223 below.
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/downloads/2019/02feb/20190220-RA-11223-RRD.pdf
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IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE ACT (REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11223)