“Napakatagal na nga, tingi-tingi pa ang benepisyong sinasagot ng PhilHealth. Manhid na ba tayo?”
This was the statement of Cong. Wilbert “Manoy” T. Lee as he questioned the Department of Health (DOH) over the slow implementation of more increases in health benefits covered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).
Lee pointed out that with the DOH at the helm of Benefits Committee (BenCom), the sub-committee responsible for the policy directions and benefits development of PhilHealth, it is questionable that its services and benefits remain unresponsive to the needs of members and beneficiaries.
“Para saan pa na Chairperson ang DOH sa Benefits Committee na ang layunin ay suriin at magmungkahi ng pagpapalawak sa mga benepisyo ng PhilHealth, kung di naman mapanatag ang mga Pilipino na may sasalo sa kanila kapag may nagkasakit sa pamilya?” he asked during the House budget briefing of DOH earlier today.
Upon Lee’s questioning during the said briefing, PhilHealth shared that as of June 2024, the agency has P504 billion worth of investments.
“Napakalaki ng pera ng PhilHealth. Baka dapat PhilBank o Philinvest na lang ang tawag sa inyo,” Lee pointed out.
The Bicolano lawmaker then reiterated his call to increase the PhilHealth benefits using the enormous funds of the agency that he first revealed during the DOH budget briefing last September 2023.
“Eksaktong isang taon na ang lumipas nang maisiwalat natin ang sobra-sobrang pondo ng PhilHealth, at manawagan tayo na palawakin ang mga benepisyo nito. Maghihintay na naman ba tayo ng isang taon para pag-usapan ito? Bakit hindi pa ibigay ang dapat ibigay at kung may sobra pa, gamitin sa pagpapababa ng contribution?” he asked.
“Hindi dapat pinatatagal ito. Hindi ko ito tatantanan hanggang maipatupad. I will be left with no choice but to move to defer the budget allocation of the DOH for the year 2025 at the proper time during our plenary deliberations if this remains unaddressed.”
“Baka huling budget hearing ko na ito sa Kongreso, pero ‘pag ako ay sinuwerte, babantayan at itutuloy ko ang laban na ito sa Senado,” he added.
A staunch health advocate, Lee persistently pushed for the 30% increase in PhilHealth benefits which was implemented last February 14.
Last August 8, the solon from Bicol also filed House Resolution No. 1900 to call for another 30% increase in PhilHealth benefits.
“Isipin po ninyo, bawat araw na lumilipas, may mga pasyenteng huli na nila nalalaman na nasa malalang stage na pala ang kanilang cancer, dahil hindi nila kayang bayaran ang diagnostic tests and scans na kailangan nila; may mga nauulilang pamilya dahil may magulang na hindi nakapagpa-opera sa puso; may mga namamatay nang di man lang nakakakita ng doktor dahil piniling maratay sa bahay dahil takot na mabaon sa utang ‘pag nagpa-ospital,” he said.
“Nakikiusap ako, maawa po tayo sa mga kapwa natin Pilipino. Habang nag-uusap tayo at nade-delay ang pagbibigay ng mga nararapat na benepisyong pangkalusugan, may mga namamatay tayong kababayan dahil wala silang pambili ng gamot at pampa-ospital,” he added.
Responding to Lee, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa expressed commitment to review the benefits and include new procedures in the PhilHealth benefits.
Meanwhile, PhilHealth President and CEO Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. stated: “We are in the process of studying another round of 30% [increase] almost across-the-board. I can commit to this Committee that this will happen before Christmas Day.”
Lee further concluded: “Wala tayong karapatan na magpatuloy sa gobyerno kung wala tayong gagawin para maibsan ang pangamba at mapagaan ang pasanin ng taumbayan. Ano pa bang hinihintay natin? Patas at mapagmalasakit na serbisyong pangkalusugan, gawin na natin!”
