www.doh.gov.ph what’s inside EDITORIAL: Lung DOH rolls The Yolanda Message cancer and the air KP Roadshow Experience: from the we breathe DOH shining Health moment Secretary p4 p5 p6 p8 VOL. 1 ISSUE 4 AUGUST 2014 5 Health Laws, 1 Administration With grit and determination, crucial laws passed that can enhance attainment of KP TO CONTINUE its quest of combating preventable deaths By Ma. Cristina C. Arayata in the country, as it is also a part of attaining better Photo courtesy: New Vois Ass’n health outcomes linked to Kalusugan Pangkalahatan, the Department of Health Red Orchid Awards was held on its fifth year to laud Local Government Units (LGUs) in promoting and implementing 100 percent Tobacco- Free Environment. The DOH Files sits with Assistant Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial, the Chairperson of the Red Orchid Awards, who talks on its vision that is anchored in coming up with standard LGU role models for tobacco- free environment and further prevents deaths due to smoking. The DOH Files: What is the Red Orchid Awards? Could you give us a brief background on its conceptualization? Asec. Ubial: The Red Orchid Award was conceptualized in 2009 during the time of Health Secretary Francisco Duque. We wanted a more rigorous campaign on the 100 percent smoke-free environment. Meaning, it is the SAVING LIVES WITH GRAPHIC HEALTH WARNINGS Tobacco control advocates from DOH, MMDA, New Vois Association continued to Page 3 of the Philippines (NVAP), and Health Justice (HJ) with champions from the Philippine Senate and Congress­­—Senators Franklin Drillon and Pia Cayetano and Ang NARS Party List Representative Leah Paquiz celebrating the passage of the Graphic Health Warnings Law A BANNER administration in the healthcare front. Universal Health Care Law The four-year Aquino administration has already passed The law mandates that most Filipinos—the entire five landmark health laws addressing crucial health-related population as much as possible especially the “poorest of the issues towards a healthier Filipino. poor”—should be covered by health insurance. When asked These legislative gems are the Universal Health Care if this has been achieved already, Sec. Ona confidently replied, (UHC), Sin Tax, Reproductive Health, National Health Insurance, “We’re there, almost there. Maybe we’re already there.” and Graphic Health Warnings Acts or Laws. Data as of June 2014 show that 82 percent of Filipinos Health Secretary Enrique T. Ona granted The DOH Files are already covered with premium subsidy. Sec. Ona explained an exclusive interview wherein he discussed the Department’s that the global standard for UHC is that about 85 percent of the plans and his personal insights in the implementation of population must be covered. these laws towards the achievement of UHC or Kalusugan He noted that about 95 percent of the so-called “poorest Pangkalahatan (KP). of the poor” were already in the government’s list. The problem Assistant Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial 2 from page 1 5 Health Laws Photo courtesy AFP equipment, as well as to augment the staff of both national and local government hospitals,” explained the health chief. Graphic Health Warnings Law This law was passed recently this year requiring the cigarette manufacturers to put pictures to depict the ill effects of smoking in tobacco product packaging and labels. The government is currently finalizing its implementing rules and regulations. “We have a year to prepare for that but we are already in the process of implementing it,” he said. Challenges Although the major obstacles have been hurdled already, Sec. Ona said the government is still dealing with the following challenges: 1. As far as UHC is concerned, the government is challenged to find and identify the real poor Filipinos. Second is effective dissemination of information so the poor who are already PhilHealth members are aware of their benefits. “This is one of the hardest parts. You must remember that poor Filipinos are the least educated and therefore, are not SIN TAX LAW SIGNING President Simeon Aquino III signed the Republic Act 10531 or the Sin Tax Reform Law on December fully informed,” he noted. 20, 2012 in Malacañan with the Department of Health, health professionals, medical societies, patients’ groups, academe, Most of them are in the fringes of the society, in and other health advocates from civil society as witnesses GIDA (geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas). At least 2 percent of the population are indigenous. Also, many Muslims are not yet covered. is, some people were not yet enlisted or were not yet identified stated that the passage of the Sin Tax Law is very important to 2. “Implementing anything that is nationwide and yet the as those belonging to the said category. the country’s healthcare pursuits. “Because of the income or authority is not up to the barangay level” poses another budget increase that was made possible through sin taxes, we challenge. This is with regards to healthcare facilities. Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive were able to enroll a total of 14.7 million families this year, from Citing an example, Sec. Ona said that the national Health Law of 2012 5.2 million poorest Filipino families from 2011 to 2013,” he said. government allocates money to build a rural health The DOH has formed the Center for Family, Maternal and unit, but the planning and implementation would be Child Care that is headed by Undersecretary Janette Garin. It is a National Health Insurance Act of 2013 dependent on the local government. He as the health bureau or cluster encompassing all aspects of mother and child RA 10606 (An Act Amending Republic Act No. 7875, chief does not have a direct authority on the project. care. It is tasked to identify strategies, and implement budgeting Otherwise Known as the National Health Insurance Act of 1995”, for effective family planning. The Population Commission As Amended, and for Other Purposes) is a law amending the Managing healthcare challenges could be a complex (POPCOM) will be working closely with this bureau.“ We have PhilHealth Law to provide wider coverage to indigents. Sec. Ona issue with no problem being the same in every situation. Sec. significantly increased the budget for RH,” remarked Sec. Ona. said he hopes that the list of poor Filipinos of the Department Ona said he manages these challenges on a case-to-case basis. He said that from the previous budget of around PhP 800 million, of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will be completed at “Use your monitoring capacity and be a good referee,” he said, the government has allotted PhP 3.5 billion for 2015. the latter part of this year. and added that in some instances, he harnesses the public- Various groups have been pushing for the passage of To address the current problem, PhilHealth has the private partnership strategy to achieve the desired healthcare the RH Law for more than a decade, but it was only during the “Enrollment at Point of Care.” When an indigent patient goes to a goals. As an example, Zuellig Family Foundation is helping Aquino administration when it successfully hurdled the obstacles government hospital and he’s not yet enrolled (or not sure if he’s the government upgrade the governance capacity of local in both Houses of Congress. There was really an unwavering enrolled) in PhilHealth, but the hospital sees that the patient is government unit (LGU) officials to improve the healthcare determination by the current administration to have it passed really indigent, the hospital will shoulder his premium. Then the system. “because the President sees its importance to eventually push hospital will charge PhilHealth for the care of that patient. “No “It’s not something that me as the health secretary can our program on poverty reduction and inclusive growth,” noted Balance Billing” will apply. Thus, the patient will be covered and do alone,” he emphasized. According to him, it is a partnership the health chief. will be enrolled right away. with the local government and other partners in the national He explained that in this law, the government is just Hospitals now have portal access to PhilHealth so they can government like the DSWD, Department of Education enforcing the inalienable human right to plan one’s family. “The check if a person is a member. At the same time, Sec. Ona said (DepEd), Department of Interior and Local Government law does not tell the family or compel them as to the number that hospitals should also have a list of Philhealth members. (DILG), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). These of their children,” he emphasized. Sec. Ona clarified that the Admittedly, Sec. Ona lamented, there are still many agencies, together with the Department of Budget and government is just teaching and encouraging parents to ensure government hospitals that are incapable of implementing this Management (DBM) and the Department of Finance (DOF), that their children live a healthy life, are provided with their and still don’t understand this kind of strategy. are major partners that are so important in the full realization essential needs and are better assured of a bright future. “We want to expand this later on,” he noted. “Now, what’s of UHC, Sec. Ona said. next? Accessibility and affordability. Affordability will be made The next two years will be fully focused on monitoring Sin Tax Reform Law of 2012 possible through the ‘No Balance Billing’, and accessibility—the to see the full implementation and identifying the gaps and Its full implementation started last year. The health chief government has put in a lot of money to improve facilities and do something to fill in these gaps.