A bill filed at the House of Representatives seeks the creation of a medicine voucher program for indigent Filipinos to access prescription drugs from government hospitals, accredited pharmacies, and other private establishments.
AGRI partylist Rep. Wilbert Lee authored House Bill 9797, or the “Free Medicine Act of 2024,” instructing the Department of Health (DOH) to coordinate with relevant government agencies and other stakeholders to establish the program.
“With this proposal, we want to help and lighten the burden of PhilHealth members, and all our countrymen who are in dire need of treatment or hospitalization support,” said Lee, member of the House committees on trade and industry, and of public accounts.
“The problems brought by the sick and their families are very heavy. Let’s not include in their thoughts where to get money to buy the medicines they need,” he added.
Once enacted, the bill shall put in place a mechanism that will facilitate the accreditation of health care medicine providers, private drug companies and drug stores, to ensure the delivery of quality and accessible medicines.
According to the Bicolano lawmaker, “it is the right of every Filipino, whether rich or poor, to live. No one should suffer, no one should die or be denied the opportunity to recover from an illness just because they do not have money to buy medicine or pay for the hospital.”
“With the cooperation of the government and the private sector, we can help many Filipino families recover from illness, be able to work again to earn money, feed the family, and reduce the fear of getting sick,” he added.
Earlier, Lee thanked the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) Board of Directors and Executive Committee for their approval of the 30 percent increase on the agency’s benefits that he pushed for.
The solon also urged PhilHealth to fully cover cancer treatment, heart bypass surgery, and other diagnostic tests and preventive measures, as well as the effective implementation of the No Balance Billing.