Philippines backs landmark UN declaration on universal healthcare

UNITED NATIONS – The Philippines has joined other member-states of the UN in supporting a landmark declaration that commits to provide universal health coverage to all citizens.

Speaking before the UN General Assembly here in New York on Monday (early Tuesday in Manila), Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the Duterte administration recognizes that health is a fundamental right and a driver for stronger and more resilient nations.

“In promoting such right, the Philippines joins other member-states in their earnest pursuit of universal health coverage, and took the bold step last February 2019 to pass our very own Universal Health Care (UHC) law,” he said, referring to Republic Act 11223 that is expected to take effect next year.

“Through this law, we have the opportunity to reorganize our health system with primary healthcare envisioned in the Alma-Ata Declaration of 1978 as the foundation,” he added, referring to the declaration that expressed the urgent need to protect and promote the health of all people.

Duque said the government is collaborating with various sectors to design environments that foster healthy choices, as well as investing more in creative and thoughtful engagement of the public to promote health and prevent diseases.

“This means inverting our pyramid so primary care becomes the base of our healthcare system,” he added, noting efforts of the Philippine government to mobilize resources for the policy.

“We worked hard to increase taxes for sugar-sweetened beverages and imposed higher taxes for tobacco products. And in the spirit of innovative financing, the UHC law earmarked lottery and casino remittances for the reforms,” he added.

The health secretary said the national government is clear in its role as a creative enabler of local government units to practice participatory leadership and responsible stewardship of their local health systems.

“But apart from being aspirational in that our reforms will be for all Filipinos, it is also a call to action. Everyone is called to contribute. The transformation of the Philippine health sector requires a whole of system, a whole of government and a whole of society effort,” he said.