Members of Akbayan Partylist hold a protest, urging senators to thoroughly investigate the alleged syndicated eye scam, at the Senate of the Philippines in Pasay City on Thursday. Complaints have been raised against unscrupulous eye clinics that have performed scores of unnecessary medical operation on patients in order to bloat their payment claims from Philhealth. (MNS Photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Palace said it continues to work on improving the country’s healthcare system particularly by expanding the coverage of the universal health care program, a Palace official said.
According to the 2015 Quality of Death study index, the Philippines lacks government-led strategy for the development and promotion of national palliative care services.
But in a radio interview on Saturday, Deputy presidential Abigail Valte said that although the government has programs for palliative care, its major thrust is having universal healthcare, noting they want a wider coverage of PhilHealth.
“Kasi ito ang existing system natin for insurance or at least healthcare ng Pilipino. So in-improve natin ang services ng PhilHealth, at ngayon mas marami na nang sakit ang covered ng PhilHealth,” Valte old dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
The government reformed the PhilHealth system, she said, noting they removed the discretion on certain illnesses and standardized the range of diseases covered.
Aside from from removing the discretion, she said PhilHealth also increased the number of health issues under its coverage, Valte said.
“Mayroon na nga tayong Z-benefits package targeting ‘yung mga mas widespread na illnesses,” she explained. PhilHealth now also has 100 percent coverage for indigent Filipinos.
“One-hundred percent na po ang coverage ng mga indigents. Kabahagi naman po nito ang patuloy natin pag-i-improve doon sa ating mga public hospitals at sa mga rural health units natin so that they could give better care to those who go to these institutions for healthcare,” she said. (MNS)