(Eagle News) — The World Health Organization lauded the Philippines for passing the Universal Health Care Law that seeks to ensure Filipinos’ equal access to quality healthcare.

In a statement, the WHO said the new law was a “critical step” to ensure “major reforms to consolidate existing yet fragmented financial flows, increase the fiscal space for benefit delivery, improve the governance and performance of devolved local health systems and institutionalize support mechanisms such as health technology assessment and health promotion.”

“We commend the Philippines for taking this step in the right direction,” the WHO said.

According to the WHO, it will extend its support to the Department of Health and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. in drafting the implementing rules and regulations for the law.

It said it was “crucial for the operational guidelines to properly demonstrate the political commitment for all Filipinos to know more about their health, be provided with healthy living conditions, be protected from hazards and risks that could affect their health while also avoiding financial hardship.”

This is an “excellent proof of commitment to improving access to quality health services at the least cost to families,” the WHO said.

Under the UHC signed by Duterte on Wednesday, Feb. 20, all Filipinos are automatically enrolled into the National Health Insurance Program.

Those who have the capacity to pay for the premiums are classified as direct contributors, while those who do not are indirect contributors.

Funding for the law will come from annual appropriations for the DOH in the national budget, total incremental collections from the taxes imposed on cigarettes, among others, apart from the premium contributions of PhilHealth members.