House Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin said she will file a resolution calling for a review of what she termed as “killer provisions” of the Universal Health Care law.
Garin, a doctor and vaccinologist, said health interventions such as medicines, vaccines, and medical devices need not undergo Phase IV clinical study under Section 34 of the UHC law.
She pointed out that after the Phase III clinical trial, health interventions are already considered safe and efficacious.
“With this requirement of Phase IV, Filipinos will have no recourse but to go to other countries to gain access to any breakthrough in science. This Section 34 of UHC is just one of the many provisions deemed restrictive and detrimental to health care accessibility,” Garin said.
Garin also slammed the creation of the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC), pointing out that it was being influenced by anti-pharmaceutical groups and former officials.
“We can change the PhilHealth chief a hundred times but unless we amend the law as soon as possible, Universal Health Care can never be achieved,” Garin said.
“I call on the leadership of both Houses to make the amendment to the UHC a priority,” she added.
