The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) have formed a landmark partnership aimed at reinforcing access to quality healthcare as a fundamental human right and a core state obligation.
In a news release on Wednesday, the state insurer said its learning forum titled “Health as a Human Right: Bridging the Healthcare Divide” gathered health and social justice leaders, alongside civil society organizations.
The discussions centered on the urgent need to shift the country’s national healthcare paradigm away from purely treating illnesses toward robust, state-funded investments in preventive and primary healthcare.
According to the agencies, the joint initiative aligns with global efforts by the World Health Organization and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to mainstream human rights in health governance and Universal Health Care (UHC) implementation.
By anchoring domestic healthcare delivery on a rights-based framework, PhilHealth and CHR aim to improve equitable access to care, particularly for marginalized and vulnerable communities.
The forum focused on the Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP) as one of the government’s critical instruments for the progressive realization of UHC.
By expanding primary care access points and preventive care, the state ensures that every Filipino is protected from financial burdens during medical emergencies.
PhilHealth president and chief executive officer Dr. Edwin Mercado, who led the activity, emphasized that healthcare is a cornerstone of human dignity.
“Through PhilHealth YAKAP, we are transforming our healthcare system to ensure that primary and preventive care are accessible to every Filipino, regardless of their economic status. This is our commitment to fulfilling the promise of universal health care,” he said.
CHR Commissioner retired Judge Maria Amifaith Fider-Reyes, who co-led the forum, explained that the right to health is inextricably linked to dignity and the right to life itself.
The CHR reiterated its commitment to working alongside PhilHealth, civil society and all stakeholders to ensure that the right to health becomes a lived reality for every Filipino, not just an abstract promise.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday reported that a total of 1,881 mothers have availed of the Expanded Maternity Benefit Package at the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital from April 30 to June 15.
PhilHealth’s enhanced coverage package continues to ease the financial burden of delivery and maternal care for Filipino families, the department said.
Citing the case of a mother who received a PHP58,000 benefit for her Primary Cesarean Section procedure, the DOH urged expecting mothers to know their medical rights and check how the expanded maternity benefit package can reduce their hospitalization costs. (PNA)
