SENATOR BONG GO PUSHES PHILHEALTH TO ACCELERATE OVERDUE REFORMS, MAXIMIZE AVAILABLE FUNDS AND MEET HEALTHCARE NEEDS OF THE POOR

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, a health reforms crusader and chairperson of the Senate Health committee, called for urgent reforms in the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). In an interview on DWCM-Aksyon Radyo Pangasinan’s Isyu ng Bayan on Thursday, January 9, Go addressed widespread concerns about the state health insurer’s mismanagement and inefficiencies.

He emphasized that PhilHealth’s funds must serve the public’s health needs rather than be unutilized, mishandled or diverted.

“Unang-una ang paalala ko sa PhilHealth, health nga eh kaya PhilHealth para po ‘yan sa health. Dapat po ang pondo po ng PhilHealth ay gamitin para sa health ng ating mga kababayan,” Go stated, underscoring that healthcare funds should be used solely for improving health services.

Go pointed to past instances of questionable plans, including the transfer of PhilHealth’s excess funds to the National Treasury temporarily halted by the Supreme Court, which he criticized as both counterproductive and morally wrong.

“Nalulungkot po ako, nadiskubre last year pa po ito sa hearing natin sa Senado na may excess fund sila, kinuha at inilipat sa National Treasury. Eh, huwag n’yo na pong antayin na magkaroon kayo ng excess funds. Gamitin n’yo na po sa mahihirap nating kababayan,” he said.

The senator also highlighted real-life cases where PhilHealth’s policies fell short in serving Filipinos. For instance, he recounted the plight of a provincial health officer from Camarines Norte who faced staggering hospital bills amounting to millions but received minimal coverage from PhilHealth.

“Noong nagkasakit siya, PHP 4 million ang hospital billing n’ya, ang sinagot ng PhilHealth PHP 27 thousand. Na-admit siyang muli, PHP 6 million, PHP 29 thousand lang,” Go explained, describing the disparity as unacceptable.

Among PhilHealth’s long-standing policies that Go has successfully challenged is the Single Period of Confinement (SPC) policy, which previously restricted patients from claiming coverage for the same illness within 90 days. This was scrapped in October after numerous appeals from Go and health advocates.

“Sabi ko kalokohan ‘yan. Tinanggal na nila,” Go revealed, marking a significant win in his health reforms crusade.

Similarly, he has pressured the agency to scrap the 24-hour confinement policy, which required patients to be admitted for at least a day before they could qualify for insurance coverage. PhilHealth officials have since committed to its removal.

“Ngayon, nangako silang tatanggalin nila. Nag-introduce sila ng mga bagong packages,” Go stated, mentioning the inclusion of dental and vision care, alongside expanded benefit packages targeting top mortality diseases such as heart conditions and diabetes.

“Sabi ko ‘yung Top 10 mortality diseases, ‘yung mga top cases po halimbawa sa heart, ‘yung mga diabetes ay dapat i-cover po nila ng mas malaki para mas mabawasan po ‘yung babayaran natin,” he said.

“Sulit ang ating pangungulit dahil kahit papaano ay ginagawan na ng aksyon ng PhilHealth ang mga hinaing na naisiwalat sa sunud-sunod na Senate Health Committee hearings na ating pinamunuan. Ngunit hindi tayo rito titigil hanggang maisakatuparan ang mga pangakong ito na kanilang binanggit under oath,” he added.

Despite these commitments, Go expressed disappointment over the zero government subsidy allocated to PhilHealth for 2025, questioning how the agency could expand its services without adequate funding.

“Nalulungkot nga po ako na zero po ang budget ng PhilHealth this year, ‘yung subsidy ng gobyerno. Eh papaano nila mae-expand ‘yung packages nila?” he asked citing that he did not sign the Bicameral report for the disagreeing provisions of the General Appropriations Bill due to his opposition to this.

He also emphasized the importance of ensuring that every peso contributed by citizens to PhilHealth is used effectively.

“Pera po ito ng taumbayan, bawat piso ay pinagpaguran. Dapat po itong gamitin sa paraan na talagang makikinabang ang mga mamamayan,” he stressed.

“Galit ang mga Pilipino dahil kaltas sa sahod natin iyang kontribusyong nakokolekta ng PhilHealth na dapat suklian nila ng maayos na serbisyo at sapat na benepisyo kapag nagkasakit,” he added.

Go vowed to continue holding PhilHealth accountable until tangible improvements are realized. Among the reforms he is monitoring are increases in case rates, the inclusion of free medicines, and assistive devices such as eyeglasses and wheelchairs. He also highlighted the importance of preventive care services.

“Sabi ko bagama’t marami kayong case rates, sabi nila 9,000 raw ‘yung case rates na pinag-aaralan nila. Sabi ko bilisan ninyo dahil nangangailangan po ‘yung mga kababayan natin ng maayos na serbisyo mula sa inyo,” Go urged.

With persistent advocacy dating back to last year, Senator Bong Go has established himself as a leading voice in the health reforms crusade. By relentlessly pushing for accountability and systemic change in PhilHealth, he continues to champion policies aimed at alleviating the healthcare burden on Filipinos.

“Bilisan ninyo dahil nangangailangan po ‘yung mga kababayan natin ng maayos na serbisyo mula sa inyo. Ang PhilHealth po, hindi negosyo ‘yan. Dapat po’y insurance ‘yan para kung sakaling magkasakit tayo mayroon tayong masasandalan,” Go concluded, reaffirming his commitment to improving the country’s healthcare system.