The provincial government of Negros Occidental is eyeing the implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) in the province, starting next year.
It earlier announced that it will hold a health summit on Nov. 24, in preparation for the UHC implementation.
Under the UHC, all Filipinos are entitled to health coverage that will lower pocket health expenses, following their automatic enrollment in the National Health Insurance Program.
Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, yesterday said the UHC health summit aims to identify health care providers from the national government, to fund the program implementation in Negros Occidental.
The PhilHealth and the Department of Health have been identified as among the “funders” of the UHC implementation in Negros Occidental, tagged by the national government as among the advance implementation sites in the country.
Expecting funding from the national government, Tumimbang said a special “health board” for the UHC will be organized, on top of the existing health board, to manage the funds and to establish its policy directions.
The mayors will also be briefed on the UHC implementation during the summit, he added./GB
