Panel Discussion Questions

“Universal Health Care: What Every Primary Care Doctor Must Understand”

Panel:
Moderator: Dr. Ma. Cecilia D. Alinea
Panelists: Dr. Maria Francia M. Laxamana (DOH)
Dr. Oscar D. Tinio (PMA)
Dr. Israel Francis A. Pargas (PHILHEALTH)
Dr. Anthony Geronimo H. Cordero (ACADEME)

MECHANICS:

I. Panelists will be introduced individually by the moderator.

The moderator will then pose a question to all the panelists.
Each panelist will take turns in answering the questions for 5 minutes.

II. Opening Question:

For DOH / PMA / Philhealth

• What is the role of your agency in the full implementation of the UHC to achieve optimum health
care delivery for the Filipinos?

For the Academe:

• How will the academe optimally prepare the medical graduate for the UHC?

III. Advanced questions for the Q and A session:

(Questions will also be taken from the participants in the chat box)

• DOH
• The Health Development Assessment per municipality or province is necessary to
determine standard payment scheme for certain diseases. How do you intend to carry this
out?
• Who are the members of the Health Development Assessment council (HDAC) and who
has the mandate to choose them? DOH or the local government units?
• What are the qualifications of the members?
• PMA
• What is the role of PMA in the full implementation of the UHC law?
• What are the steps being taken by PMA to make all members understand their status or
position in the UHC roll out: general practitioner, specialist and sub-specialist?

 • Philhealth
• With the current backlogs of Philhealth payments, how can we ensure payments for the
primary care physicians?
• What are the preparations being taken to avoid payment delay?
• If a patient from the province choose to come to Manila for a more comprehensive
treatment, what will be the extent of Philhealth coverage under the UHC law?
• Since Health Development assessment varies between LGU’s, and Philhealth payments
are the same across all levels depending on the income bracket, would there be a
perceived inequity in terms of Philhealth coverage just because you are not from Metro
Manila?

• Academe
• Should there be a body to standardize primary care education / is a primary care
curriculum blueprint necessary?
• Should the medical curriculum be re-designed to better equip them for quality primary
care?

IV. Final Word from the Panelist

• To conclude the discussion, each panelist will have 5 minutes to give their final thoughts on
how to make UHC successful.