This article is part of Devex's Healthy Access series

The power of community and partnerships to reach the last mile

Under the Philippines’ UHC law, signed in March by President Rodrigo Duterte, all Filipino citizens will be automatically enrolled in the country’s national health insurance program. The law “will guarantee equitable access to quality and affordable healthcare services for all Filipinos,” said the president during the signing ceremony.

 

But there’s currently a gap between the ambitions of the law — whose implementing rules and regulations are still being finalized — and the reality, where access and insurance coverage challenges remain.

 

The country’s national health insurance program provides coverage for the cost of cleft lip and palate surgery. However, only paying and sponsored members, and those eligible for the government subsidy, such as senior citizens and low-income families identified as indigent members by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, are currently able to receive these benefits.

 

About 93% of the estimated 104 million Filipinos are currently covered by the national health insurance program as of December 2017, according to PhilHealth data.

Under the Philippines’ UHC law, signed in March by President Rodrigo Duterte, all Filipino citizens will be automatically enrolled in the country’s national health insurance program. The law “will guarantee equitable access to quality and affordable healthcare services for all Filipinos,” said the president during the signing ceremony.

 

But there’s currently a gap between the ambitions of the law — whose implementing rules and regulations are still being finalized — and the reality, where access and insurance coverage challenges remain.

 

The country’s national health insurance program provides coverage for the cost of cleft lip and palate surgery. However, only paying and sponsored members, and those eligible for the government subsidy, such as senior citizens and low-income families identified as indigent members by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, are currently able to receive these benefits.

 

About 93% of the estimated 104 million Filipinos are currently covered by the national health insurance program as of December 2017, according to PhilHealth data.