THE PHILIPPINE Senate on Sunday has deferred a bicameral conference panel that seeks to harmonize the disagreeing provisions of the amendments to Republic Act No. 11223, the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act.
The bicameral conference committee tasked to reconcile Senate Bill No. 2620 and House Bills No. 6772 and 11357, was canceled at 9:23 a.m. on Sunday by the committee secretary, according to its official schedule. The meeting was originally scheduled for Monday (June 9).
Senator Joseph Victor “JV” G. Ejercito, Senate Committee Chair on Health and Demography did not immediately reply to a Viber message seeking comment.
Meanwhile, the Public Services Labor Independent Confederation called for the deferment of the amendments to the UHC act, following “strong opposition from labor unions, health advocates, and civil society organizations.”
“We view this as a positive step towards ensuring that any changes to the UHC Law will not be rushed and will undergo thorough and meaningful consultation, especially with labor unions and health workers who were instrumental in the passage of the law and who continue to contribute to and depend on PhilHealth and public health services,” it said in a statement.
The group had urged lawmakers to fully implement the UHC law by expanding health benefits, ensuring public financing for health, and upholding the rights of healthcare workers, among others. — Adrian H. Halili
