Sheila Crisostomo – The Philippine Star
April 27, 2023 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Four years after the Universal Health Care (UHC) law and the National Integrated Cancer Control Act (NICCA) were passed, they remain to be “works in progress,” Sen. JV Ejercito said yesterday.
Speaking at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay media forum, Ejercito noted significant progress has been made on the implementation of the two laws which he both principally authored, but much more needs to be done.
“These laws are work in progress. It’s not that everything will be in place right after they were passed. There are birth pains but I am happy to be back at the Senate as principal author. I want to see their proper implementation,” he added.
Ejercito pointed out that both measures have not yet been implemented fully as the key stumbling block is “funding.”
“The UHC law and NICCA are two challenging, very ambitious measures but we can always try. We’ll do our best to bring down the out-of-pocket expenses of our patients and their families but there are still so many things to do,” he said.
The lawmaker maintained that “one of the biggest expenses” of each Filipino family is medical.
While there are subsidies coming from the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. and fund assistance from Congress and local government units, the out-pocket-expenses remain high at 60 to 70 percent.
He added the COVID-19 pandemic had also delayed further the full implementation of the two measures as this ate up government funds.
According to Carmen Auste, senior vice president of the Cancer Coalition Philippines, there are “12 promises of NICCA” and the implementation of six of them has started.
“The government had already done so many things with the help of civil society groups and medical organizations… But there will be no future for our patients if we will not be able to implement these laws,” she said.
Auste added that among these six “promises” is the start of construction of a cancer center at the compound of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute in Quezon City that will serve as “legacy” of the Marcos administration.
The others include the designation of cancer centers in strategic areas of the country and the establishment of a project management office.
It’s women’s month!
“Support women every day of the year!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations against serious violations of Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government
(NUG) of Myanmar.
Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideos
Monthly Observances:
Women’s Role in History Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Environmental Week
Women’s Week
Week 3: Philippine Industry and Made-in-the-Philippines
Products Week
Last Week: Protection and Gender-Fair Treatment
of the Girl Child Week
Daily Observances:
March 8: Women’s Rights and
International Peace Day;
National Women’s Day
Mar 4— Employee Appreciation Day
Mar 15 — World Consumer Rights Day
Mar 18 — Global Recycling Day
Mar 21 — International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Mar 23 — International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims
Mar 25 — International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
Mar 27 — Earth Hour
