House Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janette Garin (File photo courtesy of House Press and Public Affairs Bureau)
MANILA – House Deputy Majority Leader Janette Garin on Thursday called on both houses of Congress to prioritize amending the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law, citing "killer provisions" in its current form that prevent it from being fully implemented.
Garin made the statement following the recommendation of Senate Deputy Majority Leader Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito to replace Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) president and chief executive officer Emmanuel Ledesma for his alleged failure to fully implement the UHC Law.
Garin said replacing the head of the PhilHealth would be ineffective unless the law is amended.
“We can change the PhilHealth chief a hundred times, but unless we amend the law as soon as possible, Universal Health Care can never be achieved,” said Garin, adding that the current law contains restrictive provisions that limit access to healthcare.
She announced her plan to refile a resolution urging the House Committee on Health to review the law.
One of the key amendments Garin is pushing for is the removal of the requirement for Phase IV clinical studies for health interventions, as outlined in Section 34 of the UHC Law.
She argued that health interventions such as medicines, vaccines, and medical devices are already deemed safe and effective after Phase III clinical trials.
"With this requirement of Phase IV, Filipinos will have no recourse but to go to other countries to gain access to any breakthrough in science. This Section 34 of UHC is just one of the many provisions deemed restrictive and detrimental to health care accessibility," the resolution read. (PNA)
