March 29, 2024

Former Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito there is a need to ensure the full implementation of the 10-year Universal Healthcare Law, especially in this time of Covid-19 pandemic.
Ejercito, who is the primary sponsor and author of the UHC, noted Filipinos have started to realize the urgency of law after the pandemic has exacerbated the weaknesses of the healthcare system in the country.
“Sayang kasi na while the Universal Healthcare Law is in its infancy, we were hit by the Covid-19 pandemic and its supposed good take off was greatly affected,” said Ejercito before his courtesy call to Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong on March 15.
Mismanagement of the PhilHealth program specially in wake of the alleged corruption in the agency is one of the major setbacks of the non-full implementation of the UHC aside from inadequate healthcare facilities, and delayed benefits of healthcare workers, among other concerns.
Ejercito said Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center, which caters to patients not only from Northern Luzon but also from Central Luzon, will one of government-owned hospital to benefit from the full implementation of the UHC.
He said funds for BGHMC will be sustained especially when the hospital’s specialty centers –
kidney, lung, brain, trauma, and heart – will be fully operational.
Ejercito has been declared adopted son of Mountain Province and Kalinga for including the improvements of the Bontoc General Hospital and Kalinga Provincial Hospital as among his priority projects during his stint in the Senate.
He said he is in the best position to oversee the implementation of the UHC amidst the prolonged Covid-19 pandemic. – Harley F. Palangchao