REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Reproductive Act No. 10354 was signed into law by President Benigno S. Aquino III on 21 december, 2012. The new law is the product of over fourteen years of public controversy and political wrangling. Earlier proposals, including The Reproductive Health and Population and Development Act of 2010 (HB 0000096) and the Act providing for a National Policy on Reproductive Health and Population and Development (SB 2378), were amalgamated into the The Responsible Parenthood, Reproductive Health and Population and Development Act of 2011. This developed in two different versions in the House and Senate during 2012. The House and Senate passed both versions 18 December, 2012 and then agreed upon the final text signed by the Philippines President. The most incendiary provisions (such as the threat of imprisonment for speaking against the law) were deleted during the amendments process. However, the new law is of concern from the perspective of freedom of conscience because it threatens some conscientious objectors with imprisonment and fines. Before considering the law in more detail, it is appropriate to consider the circumstances in which it will operate.

Background Health care delivery Health care is delivered in the Philippines by both the public and private sector. In 2005, 702 hospitals and health facilities were operated by the government and 1130 by the private sector, including religious denominations. Citizens are free to obtain private health insurance, but all must enrol in the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP), which is ultimately to become "one universal health insurance program for the entire population. The Program is administered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), a government owned and controlled corporation. PhilHealth establishes and monitors standards and, within the terms of the National Health Insurance Act of 1995, determines policies for payment of claims. It also accredits health care institutions and practitioners and processes and reimburses claims for health care provided by them. About 90% of health care providers have been accredited, a fact that incidentally demonstrates the importance and influence of the public health insurance plan despite the numerical predominance of private facilities.