The President of the Republic of the Philippines, Pres. Aquino signed a law granting health insurance for Filipinos funded through proceeds from sin taxes. The law was signed on Wednesday, June 19, 2013.
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According to one of the principal author, Bacolod City Rep. Anthony Golez, the Republic Act 10606, the Universal Health Care Act, will ensure that all Filipinos, especially the poorest of the poor, will get health insurance coverage from the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).
The law mandates a national health insurance program (NHIP) as the means for the healthy to help pay for the care of the sick and for those who can afford medical care to subsidize those who cannot.
The program shall be compulsory in all provinces, cities and municipalities, notwithstanding the existing health insurance programs of local government units. The new law signed by the President is a consolidation of over 50 bills from the House of Representatives and the Senate to amend RA 7875 of 1995 creating the PhilHealth.