Manoy Wilbert “Wise” Lee has called on Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Ted Herbosa to resign due to failure to address key issues on the country’s healthcare system which he committed during the House budget deliberations.
In his filed House Resolution No. 2090, Lee cited the commitments signed by Herbosa and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. last September 25 during the House Plenary deliberations of the 2025 DOH budget, which were not complied with despite lapsed and looming deadlines of some commitments.
It can be recalled that the Bicolano lawmaker first floated the suggestion for Herbosa to resign last October 10 if the commitments he signed remain undelivered.
“Malinaw na ang DOH, bilang tagapamuno ng Benefits Committee ng PhilHealth, ang dapat na manguna sa pagpapatupad ng kasunduang ito. Kung walang balak si Sec. Herbosa na tumupad dito, ngayon pa lang ay magbitiw na siya sa puwesto. Dahil kung wala silang isang salita, ako mismo, kasama ang sambayanan ay maniningil sa pagpapaasa na naman sa milyon-milyong Pilipino,” the solon earlier stated.
Among the commitments made that have lapsed are the submission of a detailed and comprehensive plan with definite timeline to lower out-of-pocket medical expenses of Filipinos and comprehensive report on the availability of medicines and vaccines which was due last October 31, 2024.
Meanwhile, the commitment to implement a 50% across-the-board PhilHealth benefits increase that should be effective starting this November has yet to materialize notwithstanding the approaching end of the month.
“The document with commitments signed by Health Secretary Herbosa and PhilHealth Chief Ledesma is not only for their ministerial duties, but also for their genuine compliance to the Congress as an institution, and ultimately to the Filipino people who deserve a better healthcare system,” Lee said.
“Sec. Herbosa has intentionally misled the Filipino people into believing that he will fulfill the commitments made by the DOH during the budget deliberations,” he added.
Lee shared that despite follow-up letters addressed to Herbosa and received by the DOH office on October 7 and November 5, the Health Secretary did not respond to the call and did not comply with the said commitments.
“Nasaan na ang propesyunalismo at respeto sa Kongreso, kung sa mga sulat ukol sa kasunduang pinirmahan niya habang nasa budget deliberations at nasa records ng Kongreso ay di man lang sumagot? May polisiya ang gobyerno na nagsasabing dapat makatugon ang mga ahensya at opisina ng gobyerno sa mga sulat. Kung nagagawa ni Sec. Herbosa na balewalain ang Kongreso, ano pang aasahan natin sa kanyang liderato?” Lee said referring to the Anti-Red Tape Authority’s (ARTA) “3-7-20” policy which mandates government agencies to hasten the processing time of transactions to three (3) days for simple transactions, (seven) 7 days for complex transactions and twenty (20) days for highly technical application.
“The DOH and Secretary Ted Herbosa’s failure to resolve fundamental health issues reflects a lack of effective leadership and accountability,” the solon added.
Other commitments that Lee sealed with DOH and PhilHealth include free pediatrics and adult prescription glasses effective November 2024, free diagnostic tests such as Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan, Computed Tomography (CT) scan and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as part of outpatient services and at least 80% coverage for cancer treatments and heart procedures not later than December 31, 2024.
A staunch health advocate, Lee is the driving force to increase PhilHealth benefits by 30% which was implemented last February 14. PhilHealth’s benefit package for hemodialysis was also expanded from P2,600 to P6,350 per session and from 90 sessions per year to 156 sessions annually, as well as for the breast cancer treatment coverage which increased from P100,000 to P1.4 million.
“Habang pinatatagal ang pagtupad sa mga dagdag na benepisyong pangkalusugan, nadadagdagan ang bilang ng mga Pilipinong patuloy na nagdurusa at nagtitiis sa mga tingi-tinging serbisyo. Kung hindi ito kayang maipatupad, dapat nang maghanap ng karapat-dapat at epektibong pinuno ng DOH,” Lee said.
“Ang gamot at pagpapagamot ng Pilipino, dapat sagot na ng gobyerno. Hindi natin ito makakamit kung ang mismong Kalihim ng Kalusugan ay bingi at manhid sa pangangailangang pangkalusugan ng mamamayan. Hindi na siya dapat pang manatili sa puwesto kung pinapaasa at niloloko lang niya ang mga Pilipino,” he added.
