BONG GO TO HOLD PHILHEALTH ACCOUNTABLE FOR UNFULFILLED PROMISES IN HEALTH COMMITTEE HEARING

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and a health reforms crusader announced that his committee will convene a year-end hearing today, December 18, to address critical issues surrounding the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), including the proposed zero budget allocation for 2025 and updates on promised reforms.

Senator Go, who has consistently pushed for improved healthcare services for Filipinos, emphasized the urgency of holding PhilHealth accountable amid what can be described as a “double black-eye” situation. He stressed that the upcoming hearing aims to uncover the agency’s progress, or lack thereof, and compel concrete actions that directly benefit ordinary Filipinos.

“Ano na bang ginawa nila sa pangungulit natin sa kanila? Ano na estado ng mga ipinangako ninyo?” Senator Go said.

Senator Go’s committee previously unearthed that PhilHealth holds a PHP 500-billion reserve fund while failing to fully address the needs of Filipino patients.

The controversy escalated when PhP 89.9 billion of PhilHealth’s excess funds were to be transferred to the national treasury, with the Supreme Court halting the release of the remaining PhP 29.9 billion. Senator Go criticized this situation, asserting that such funds should be reinvested in healthcare. “Eh PhilHealth po yan, pondo po ng health yan. Dapat sa health gamitin.”

Senator Go lamented that, despite holding substantial funds, PhilHealth has been slow to implement reforms, calling it unacceptable. “Pinatulog nila yung pondo ng PhilHealth. Kawawa yung Pilipino eh. Reality lang po tayo. Ngayon po pumunta tayo sa mga ospital, ‘di ba hirap na hirap po yung mga kababayan natin? Halos ang liit-liit ng counterpart na sinasagot ng PhilHealth.”

The proposed zero government subsidy for PhilHealth in 2025 adds another layer of concern, particularly for the poor and indigent patients who rely heavily on the agency. “Paano natin mae-expand ang benefits ng PhilHealth kung ni piso ay walang ibibigay na subsidy ang gobyerno? While I agree to hold PhilHealth accountable for their lapses, I do not agree that we should completely defund subsidy for PhilHealth. This is unacceptable and anti-poor. Ang mga mahihirap na pasyente po ang kawawa dito.”

Senator Go underscored that PhilHealth’s failure to deliver reforms has contributed to this predicament. “Kaya nga double blackeye. Kinuha na yung excess funds, na-zero pa kayo dahil hindi napapakinabangan ng taumbayan ang pondo na para dapat sa benepisyong pangkalusugan.”

As Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, Senator Go has relentlessly pushed PhilHealth to address outdated and anti-poor policies while improving its services. He recalled several key reforms he advocated for that PhilHealth only recently implemented after persistent hearings.

The past months, Go kept on urging PhilHealth to expand its benefit packages especially for top 10 mortality diseases, increase case rates, recommend the reduction of premium contribution of members, scrap its restrictive policies like the 24-hour confinement policy, cover additional services like dental, optometric services, provide free medicines and assistive devices, among others.

“Marami pong tanong sa paggamit ng pondo ng PhilHealth, pero hindi sapat ang sagot na mayroon itong reserbang bilyon. Kailangang ilatag nila ang malinaw na plano kung paano nila mapapalawak ang benepisyo para sa taumbayan,” Senator Go stated.

In terms of expanding benefits, Senator Go welcomed PhilHealth’s move to include dental checkups under its coverage but stressed that much more needs to be done. “Itong expand benefit packages, ngayon inaprubahan na nila yung dental packages. Ibig sabihin yung checkup sa ngipin. Eh noon hindi kasama. Eh ang dami ninyong mga dapat na benefit packages na i-expand ninyo.”

He reiterated his challenge to PhilHealth: stop making promises and start delivering real results. “Sabi ng presidente nila na si Mr. Ledesma, promise, promise, promise. Kaya nga ang tawag ko sa kanya noon ‘Boy Promise’. Sabi ko huwag puro promise. Tupad naman, ‘Boy Tupad’ naman. Huwag naman panay boy promise. Tuparin mo kasi ang dami pong mga pasyente na nag-aantay.”

He also took issue with the government’s justification for cutting PhilHealth’s subsidy, emphasizing that health services are essential for ordinary Filipinos. He insisted that PhilHealth should continue to receive a reasonable government subsidy in accordance with existing laws. He argued that the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law and Sin Tax Laws mandate sufficient funding to be earmarked for health purposes.

He further emphasized the importance of prioritizing social services in budget allocations. “Para sa akin po yung dapat ay yung may subsidy po ang gobyerno dapat sa kanila para tuluy-tuloy po ang kanilang serbisyo. Para sa akin ang mga Pilipino po, ang mga indigent patients po ang makikinabang dito sa PhilHealth dahil halos lahat naman po nagkakasakit. Ang nasa public hospital ay yung mga mahihirap nating kababayan.”