Cong. Wilbert “Manoy” T. Lee wants the positive result of fiscalizing the Department of Health (DOH) budget and its attached agencies acknowledged instead of focusing on the mic scuffle between him and House Senior Deputy Minority Leader Cong. Paul Daza.
It can be recalled that during the House plenary deliberation of the DOH budget on September 25, the Bicolano lawmaker grabbed the microphone from Daza upon realizing that he will no longer be given the opportunity to speak.
“Naipaliwanag po natin sa plenaryo kung bakit natin ginustong makapagsalita pa bago matapos ang deliberasyon. Gusto nating ibahagi ang napagtagumpayan natin na mga dagdag na serbisyong pangkalusugan, hindi lang para maipaalam ito sa Kongreso at sa sambayanang Pilipino kundi para sama-sama ring bantayan ang implementasyon nito,” Lee said pertaining to the commitment signed by the DOH Secretary and Chairman of PhilHealth Board Ted Herbosa and PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. to lower the out-of-pocket hospital expenses of Filipinos.
“Hindi dapat matabunan ang ipinaglalaban nating ito dahil ito ang kailangang-kailangan nang maipatupad agad para sa kalusugan ng ating mga kababayan. Deserve ito ng bawat Pilipino. Dapat mapababa ang out-of-pocket expenses o gastusin nila kapag nagkasakit hanggang maging libre na ang pagpapagamot dahil karapatan ito ng ating mga kababayan sa ilalim ng Universal Healthcare Law,” he added.
According to Lee, DOH and PhilHealth expressed its strong commitment to implement its plan to lower the out-of-pocket medical expenses of our countrymen. Some of which are:
– To implement another round of benefits package enhancement, across-the-board, by 50% effective November 2024.
– To cover diagnostic tests such as Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan, Computed Tomography (CT) scan and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as part of outpatient services not later than December 31, 2024.
– To cover at least 80% of cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and procedures for heart diseases not later than December 31, 2024.
– To cover pediatrics and adult prescription glasses by November 2024.
“Hindi po ito laban na pansarili lang. Laban ito ng milyong-milyong Pilipinong laging may pangamba na magkasakit sa takot na malubog lalo sa utang at kahirapan dahil walang pambili ng gamot o pambayad sa ospital,” the solon from Bicol said.
In a radio interview on September 27, House Deputy Majority Leader Janette Garin stated that Lee is correct in pushing to reduce the out-of-pocket spending of Filipinos.
“Tama naman ‘yung advocacy niya, kasi nga ang kinukuwestiyon niya ay bakit malaki pa rin ang out-of-pocket expenditure ‘pag tayo’y nagkakasakit,” she said.
Meanwhile, in an interview with former Department of Finance Undersecretary Cielo Magno last September 27, Lee underscored the importance of persistently pushing for PhilHealth increases and ensuring their immediate implementation.
“Kapag nakalampas kasi ang budget ng DOH nang hindi natin natiyak ang kanilang commitment, idi-dribble na naman tayo hanggang sa susunod na budget season. Iyan ang nangyari last year. Pinangakuan nila tayo sa budget hearing pero anong nangyari? Tingi-tingi lang ang naidagdag na serbisyo habang ang dami nating namamatay na mga kababayan. Hindi ito makatarungan,” Lee said.
In agreement with the solon from Bicol, Magno remarked. “Alam kong si Cong. Wilbert, not just in this hearing, last hearing pa niya mino-monitor ‘yan, saka tinatanong niya talaga.”
A staunch health advocate, Lee successfully pushed for the 30% across-the-board increase of PhilHealth benefits implemented last February 14.
