Cong. Wilbert “Manoy” T. Lee garnered overwhelming support for successfully securing a commitment from the Department of Health (DOH) and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) that they will impose radical increases in healthcare benefits to lower the out-of-pocket medical expenses of Filipinos.

During the September 23 House Plenary budget deliberations, Lee stressed that “We need a radical overhaul and not incremental change in our health financing. Radikal, hindi tingi-tingi na suporta sa serbisyong pangkalusugan.”

It can be recalled that during the recently concluded House Plenary budget debates, the Bicolano lawmaker secured a strong commitment from the DOH and PhilHealth to improve health services as signed by DOH Secretary and Chairman of PhilHealth Board Ted Herbosa and PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel Ledesma Jr.

According to Lee, DOH and PhilHealth committed to implement concrete plans to ease the financial burden of Filipino families from healthcare costs. Some of which include implementing a 50% across-the-board PhilHealth benefits increase effective November 2024, free diagnostic tests such as PET scan, CT scan and MRI as part of outpatient services, and coverage of at least 80% for cancer treatments and heart procedures not later than December 31, 2024, among other additional health services.

The same commitment letter was used by health reform advocate Dr. Tony Leachon as a model to urge the Senate Committee on Health and Demography in making the health agencies accountable to increase benefits, especially with PhilHealth’s billions of funds which Lee exposed last year.

During the October 2 Senate panel hearing, Leachon, holding a copy of the said commitment letter secured by Lee, said: “I think, this should be a commitment exercise letter in front of the public, streamlined, para malaman ang commitment nila…Dapat ho ganun ang gawin natin para hindi ho tayo napapaglalangan.”

Meanwhile, in a September 27 interview, former Department of Finance Undersecretary Cielo Magno lauded Lee for his persistent advocacy in pushing for transparency from the PhilHealth Benefits Committee, the sub-committee responsible for the policy directions and benefits development of PhilHealth.

“Maganda yung sinasabi ni Cong. Wilbert na may accountability dapat ang board na ito at makita natin kung paano sila nagdedesisyon. Alam ko na si Cong. Wilbert, not just in this hearing, last hearing pa niya minomonitor yan. Talagang tinatanong niya ‘yan,” Magno said.

Further, in Lee’s recent visit to his fellow Bicolano and fellow Sorsoganon, Senate President Escudero, both lawmakers agreed in pushing for PhilHealth benefit increases.

Social media users also expressed support to Lee for his consistent efforts to improve the healthcare services in the country.

“Napakagandang balita po niyan, maraming salamat po sa malasakit,” a netizen wrote.

“Good luck sir… ituloy ang laban basta itama ang lahat,” another netizen posted.

According to the solon from Bicol, these sentiments prove that the fight for a better healthcare system is a fight of all Filipinos.

“Ang laban na ito ay hindi pansarili o ng iilan lang. Noong isang taon pa natin ito sinimulan at babantayan natin ito hanggang maisakatuparan ang mga kailangang-kailangan at karapatan ng ating mga kababayan na serbisyong pangkalusugan,” Lee said.

“De-kalidad at libreng gamot at pagpapagamot para sa lahat, gawin na natin!” he added.