BACOLOD City – This city intends to be one of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Integration Sites.
City councilor Claudio Jesus Puentevella disclosed that Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, in a letter to Department of Health (DOH) officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire, signified the intent of this city to be one of the advance implementer cities of Republic Act (RA) 11223, also known as the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act.
The act mandates that every Filipino shall be granted immediate eligibility and access to preventive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative care for medical, dental, mental, and emergency health services.
The councilor also cited that the act adopts policies such as an integrated and comprehensive approach to ensure that all Filipinos are health literate, provided with healthy living conditions, and protected from hazards and risks that could affect their health.
He also said that the act is a framework that fosters a whole-of-system, whole-of-government, and whole-of-society approach in the development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of health policies, programs, and plans.
He further said that the city government seeks a people-oriented approach to the delivery of health services that is centered on people’s needs and well-being and cognizant of the differences in culture, values, and beliefs.
Meanwhile, the city council passed a resolution on Wednesday, Nov. 9, strongly supporting the intention./PN
