Review health care law, Hontiveros urges DOH, PhilHealth

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) and the Department of Health (DOH) should review and amend the implementing rules and regulations for the Universal Health Care law that had overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) up in arms, according to Sen. Risa Hontiveros.

Hontiveros also urged her colleagues in Congress to convene the oversight committee on the Universal Health Care Law to discuss the concerns of the OFWs.

PhilHealth and the DOH should consult the OFWs and listen to their concerns even after the President has ordered that the overseas workers be given a reprieve from the payment of increased premium rates amid the crisis over the new coronavirus, Hontiveros said.

President Duterte also said OFWs should not be mandated to pay their contributions before leaving the country.

Hontiveros said the new rate — which increased to 3 percent this year from 2.75 percent — was a big burden to OFWs amid the crisis.

“Many of our OFWs and their families are included in the poor and vulnerable sector even before the COVID-19 crisis hit,” she said.

She said health officials should consult with the different kinds of OFWs as they are not in similar situations.

They should be included in the decision-making, she added.

Hontiveros said officials should appreciate that OFWs raised concerns about the Universal Health Care law.

“This should not stop us from pursuing better implementation of this landmark law. These are birth pains that need to be addressed to benefit everybody,” she said.

“We cannot abandon universal health care. It is an essential piece of legislation that, at the end of the day, if implemented properly, will provide health care to all Filipinos,” she added.

She also called on officials to review PhilHealth’s current benefit package for OFWs. INQ