Ejercito pushes for review of UHC, vows support for health system in Quezon
July 16, 2025
Senator JV Ejercito visited the Quezon Medical Center on Tuesday to assess healthcare services on the ground and consult with Quezon Governor Helen Tan on ways to improve the implementation of Universal Health Care (UHC) Law five years since it was enacted.
Tan was his co-sponsor of the law in the House of Representatives.
During the visit, Ejercito, author and principal sponsor of the UHC Law, said that he will convene the Senate Oversight Committee on UHC implementation by August or September.
“It’s time we assess where we are. Saan ba tayo nagkulang, saan nagkamali, at paano pa natin mas mapapabuti ang pagpapatupad ng batas,” Ejercito said.
“The UHC implementation is a 10-year program. We’re halfway through. This is a good time to evaluate and recalibrate.”
During his visit, Ejercito personally inspected Quezon Medical Center and praised its improvements under Governor Tan’s leadership but noted there’s more to be done.
“Ang layo na ng improvement. Dati madilim, punong-puno, may mga pasyente sa pasilyo. Pero ngayon maayos na, may CT scan, MRI, at zero balance billing. Iba talaga kapag doktor ang namumuno,” he said.
“May mga kailangan pa tulad ng ventilators, lalo sa pediatric ICU. I’ll coordinate with the Department of Health, especially since I’m defending their budget again this year,” he added.
As the author of the Regional Specialty Centers Law, the lawmaker from San Juan confirmed that Quezon Medical Center is one of the DOH’s identified locations.
“We increased the budget for specialty centers from P2 million to P6 million. Sayang kung hindi magagamit. Let’s make sure we get the needed equipment, whether for heart, kidney, or cancer services,” he said.
Ejercito also emphasized the urgency of reducing the out-of-pocket medical expenses for ordinary Filipinos.
“Kaya nga namin pinasa ang UHC para matulungan ang pamilyang Pilipino. Kung P100,000 ang bill, dapat hindi P8,000 lang ang sinasagot ng PhilHealth. Target natin, at least 30 to 50 percent ng bill ang covered, para mabawasan ang bigat sa bulsa,” he said.
“Some may say it’s an ambitious law, yes. But it’s a law worth fighting for because healthcare should not be a burden. Tuloy ang laban para sa mas malusog at mas maayos na kinabukasan.”
Meanwhile, Governor Tan expressed gratitude and readiness to support Ejercito’s oversight work.
“Masaya rin ako na ma-share yung nararanasan natin on the ground, especially pagdating sa health services from primary healthcare up to the hospital and higher levels of care na aligned sa UHC,” Tan said.
“Thankful din ako kay Sir JV kasi naalala niya yung partnership namin nung inilalaban pa lang namin ang Universal Health Care Law na ngayon ay nararanasan na ng mga Pilipino. Na-eenjoy na nila ngayon ang ilan sa mga benepisyo,” she added.
