In 2018, the Philippine Congress passed the Universal Healthcare (UHC) Law and its implementing rules which mandated the enrollment of all Filipinos to PhilHealth, the national social health insurance corporation. The Department of Health (DOH) and PhilHealth will leverage their strategic purchasing power by affiliating Health Care Provider Networks (HCPNs), established within the geopolitical boundaries of a province or a highly urbanized city, through service level agreements. This study aims to shed light on what is expected from providers, payers, and regulators to implement UHC successfully.

The researchers conducted an inductive, content analytic qualitative study guided by the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Building Blocks Framework to determine the understanding and acceptance of the implementing rules of the UHC Law and the perceived barriers and enablers from the provider, payer, and regulator stakeholders in three provinces in the Philippines. Purposive sampling was utilized to provide the best representation across different economic and physical settings. A content analysis was done through an inductive process of coding concepts, which was the basis for categories grouped and matched deductively with the WHO framework. This formed the broader sub-themes and were used for the final data interpretation.

A total of 16 focus group discussions (FGDs) and nine in-depth interviews (IDIs) were performed with 84 participants. Inductive thematic analysis of categories and subcategories showed that the participants support the goals and objectives of the UHC Law. Still, perceived barriers refer to the lack of and improper use of funds, the need to clarify the implementing guidelines, and the role of politics. The participants indicated that solidarity and social connectedness with health system adaptability and resilience are enablers for the success of UHC reforms.

Proposals to mitigate the barriers include expanding the funding source, clarifying rules on the f inancial management system, and providing guidelines on health delivery integration to ensure access to patient care. Decentralization with autonomy will allow the stakeholders to align health programs with local needs. Proper representation in decision-making bodies is desirable to establish strong community involvement and solidarity. Resilience and adaptability based on a feedback loop are imperative.