UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE

Universal health coverage is defined as ensuring that all people have access to needed health
services (including prevention, promotion, treatment, rehabilitation and palliation) of sufficient
quality to be effective while also ensuring that the use of these services does not expose the
user to financial hardship.
Just recently, President Rodrigo Duterte signed a Universal Health Care (UHC) Bill into law
(Republic Act No. 11223) that automatically enrolls all Filipino citizens in the National Health
Insurance Program and prescribes complementary reforms in the health system. That gives
citizens access full continuum of health services they need, while protecting them from
enduring financial hardships a result.
World Map of Universal Healthcare in 2018
HIV/AIDS
AIDS is a serious disease of the immune system that is caused by
infection with a virus that is called HIV. This becomes life-
threatening and that is caused by infection with HIV commonly
transmitted in infected blood especially during illicit intravenous
drug use and bodily secretions (such as semen) during sexual
intercourse. The Philippines has one of the lowest rates of infection,
yet has one of the fastest growing number of cases worldwide.
But in the latest data of the Department of Health:
Modes of transmission
● 61% Males having sex with males only
● 26% Males having sex with males and females
● 10% Male and female sex
● 2% Mother to child
● 18% Drug users sharing needles
● Cases are getting younger, from Grade 9 to college youth
Source: DOH ART Registry, January 2018.
In 2018, approximately 32 people are diagnosed with HIV-AIDS each day. As of
May 2019, the infection rate is 38 per day. The Philippines has now the highest
HIV infection rate in the Asia Pacific Region at 141% increase, followed by
Pakistan at a 39% increase. Thailand that use to have the highest infection rate
has decreased by 50%. (UNAIDS Global Report 2017)
“About 50 percent of these males are aged 25 to 34 years old, meaning they are
part of the productive age or workforce group while 31 percent are males aged
15 to 24 years old who are part of the younger population and still in learning
institutions,” according to Ms. Mary Joy Morin, DOH.
Sundown Clinics
The Department of Health (DOH) is providing antiretroviral (ARV)
medicine for free to anyone who test positive for HIV, as well as
outpatient services to a maximum of PHP 30,000 a year per person.
Between 2013 and 2015, the government increased funding for the
HIV program, and now shoulders 70% of all financing for its
response. DOH then emphasized that getting tested for HIV is
crucial. They said preventing one at-risk person from getting HIV
only costs P3,200 per year, while treating one HIV-infected person
can reach up to P33,000 annually.
For the current administration, President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Philippine
HIV and AIDS Policy Act of 2018 on December 20, 2018. This new law repeals
the 21-year-old “Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998” (RA 8504)
which puts Philippine National Aids Council (PNAC) in charge of the country’s
overall implementation of the AIDS Medium Term Plan, a 6-year term plan to
prevent and control the spread of HIV and AIDS. Another major provision in the
law allows minors 15 to 17 years of age to give their own consent for taking an
HIV test. The law strengthens policies to fight discrimination towards persons
living with HIV and AIDS.
DENGUE
According to the Department of Health, a total of 271,840
dengue cases were reported from January to August 31 of
this year, prompting the declaration of a national dengue
epidemic. As of August 31 this year, an estimated 1,107
people have died of dengue in the Philippines, almost half
were children between five to nine years of age. This
percentage were the highest in the last five years.
◦ Because of the issue about the Dengvaxia Vaccine in the past
administration, there has been a downfall on the
percentage of respondents who strongly agree that
vaccines are important. Filipino mothers were also hesitant
to let their children be vaccinated with the new vaccine
offered by the Department of Health despite of the
assurance of the DOH that the issue before will not happen
again with the new vaccine.
The most effective way to prevent dengue
according to the DOH, is to observe the 4S:
Search and Destroy Mosquito Breeding Places
Self-Protection Measures
Seek Early Consultation
Say Yes to Spraying/Fogging
POLIO
Polio is a serious disease that affects the nerves of the spine and often makes a
person permanently unable to move particular muscles. Most people with polio
do not feel sick. And, some people have only minor symptoms, such as fever,
tiredness, nausea, headache, nasal congestion, sore throat, cough, stiffness in
the neck and back, and pain in the arms and legs. (Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, 2019)
On 19 of September 2019, an outbreak of polio was declared in the Philippines.
Children in the Philippines are at risk of lifelong paralysis because of this
outbreak. DOH, in close coordination with local government units and
concerned national agencies, and with the support of WHO, the United Nations
Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and other partners, is preparing a rapid response to
the polio outbreak. (WHO, 2019)
Vaccination prevents polio, plain and simple. Hence, the national
routine immunization schedule for infants includes the polio
vaccine. Babies receive one dose of Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) 3
½ months after birth, along with 3 doses of Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV).
Children below the age of 5 are eligible for free OPV immunization.
Meanwhile, children who did not get vaccinated on time may also
avail catch-up immunization. According to WHO, 99 out of 100
children who receive all the recommended doses of vaccine become
protected from polio.
MALARIA