Senator Ejercito Urges Formation of Joint Oversight Committee for Universal Health Care

Senator Joseph Victor ‘JV’ Ejercito has once again pushed for the creation of a Joint Congressional Oversight Committee to monitor the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act, as outlined in Section 39 of the legislation. Speaking at a Senate Committee on Health and Demography public hearing, Ejercito emphasized the importance of assessing the UHC Act’s implementation and progress. He pointed out that the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) plays a crucial role in providing individual-based health services under the act. Ejercito expressed his hope that the committee could be established in the next session to reassure the public. The UHC Act, enacted in 2019 and implemented in 2020, aims to decrease Filipinos’ out-of-pocket medical costs. Ejercito also called for a review of the case rates and benefit packages to alleviate the financial burdens many Filipinos face with hospital bills. He questioned the existence of surplus funds while patients struggle financially, stressing that the act’s primary goal is to reduce out-of-pocket expenses. Senator Christopher Lawrence Go supported Ejercito’s call for oversight, noting that such hearings serve to inform the public about the law’s implementation and to urge officials to perform their duties effectively.