Japan lends Philippines P11.54 billion for health care
MANILA, Philippines — Japan is lending the Philippines P11.54 billion to help finance the next phase of the country's Universal Health Care program, as Manila works to turn its six-year-old health law into more accessible and reliable services.
The loan will fund the Build Universal Health Care Program Subprogram 3-Emergency Support, or BUHC3, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday, August 4.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency and Asian Development Bank will co-finance and implement the program.
The Philippines and Japan signed diplomatic notes confirming their agreement on the loan's purpose and general terms, the DFA said. It did not disclose details such as the loan's interest rate or repayment period.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said the agreement "reaffirms the strong commitment of the Philippines and Japan to ensuring quality, accessible, and equitable healthcare" for Filipinos.
The loan is intended to support health-care financing and purchasing, the delivery of quality services, and improvements in information management and performance accountability, according to the DFA.
"The BUHC 3 aims to improve equitable access to quality health services that are also responsive to gender-specific health concerns and the health impacts of climate change," the department said.
Third phase of health support. BUHC3 follows two earlier programs supporting the Philippines' universal health-care reforms.
The first ran from 2019 to 2021 with ADB support. The second, implemented from July 2021 to September 2023, was co-financed by the ADB, JICA and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
Republic Act 11223, or the Universal Health Care Act, was enacted in 2019 to expand Filipinos' access to affordable health care.
The law automatically enrolls all Filipinos in the National Health Insurance Program administered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.
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