Lee Questions Removal of Government Subsidy for PhilHealth in 2025 Budget
Lee Questions Removal of Government Subsidy for PhilHealth in 2025 Budget Cong. Manoy Wilbert “Wise” Lee has raised serious concerns over the decision to exclude government subsidies for the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) in the 2025 General Appropriations Bill, recently approved by the Bicameral Conference Committee. He warned that the move would disproportionately impact vulnerable sectors, including indigents, senior citizens, unemployed persons with disabilities (PWDs), and other financially incapacitated individuals. “Removing this subsidy goes against the very essence of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law. It will leave millions of Filipinos, especially the poor, without access to essential health benefits,” Lee said. He criticized the decision as a result of inefficiencies and mismanagement by the agencies tasked to administer health funds. The Bicolano lawmaker has long opposed similar moves, including the transfer of PhilHealth’s ₱89.9 billion excess funds to the National Treasury, arguing that health resources should not be diverted for other purposes. “Health funds must be used exclusively to improve the health and well-being of Filipinos, not for projects unrelated to public health,” Lee emphasized. Lee also renewed his call for accountability from the Department of Health (DOH) and PhilHealth, highlighting the need for leadership that prioritizes public welfare. “Our fight remains the same: to expand and enhance health benefits until medicine and healthcare become free for all,” he concluded. #UniversalHealthCare #SupportPhilHealth #WiseLeadership Healthcare Ethics and Legal Issues Previous Post Latest Posts 17 Dec 2024 Lee Blasts DOH for Wasted Medicines, Calls for Secretary’s Resignation 16 Dec 2024 Lee Demands Investigation into ₱11-B Expired Medicines and Vaccines 12 Dec 2024 Lee Questions Zero Gov't Subsidy For PhilHealth In 2025 Categories Healthcare Policy Public Health Initiatives Healthcare Ethics and Legal Issues Healthcare Access and Equity Spread the News
Lee Blasts DOH for Wasted Medicines, Calls for Secretary’s Resignation
Lee Blasts DOH for Wasted Medicines, Calls for Secretary’s Resignation Manoy Wilbert “Wise” Lee has demanded accountability from the Department of Health (DOH) over ₱11.18 billion worth of expired medicines and vaccines, describing the waste as an unforgivable lapse in governance. In filing House Resolution No. 2117, Lee also reiterated his call for DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa’s resignation, citing persistent inefficiencies and unfulfilled commitments. “This isn’t just a case of expired supplies; this is a failure to serve the Filipino people. While public hospitals run out of medicine, billions of pesos worth of health resources go to waste. Someone must answer for this,” Lee said. The COA report attributed the wastage to inadequate procurement planning and poor logistical management. Lee demanded a congressional inquiry to identify the root causes and prevent such negligence from happening again. He also called for reforms to ensure timely and effective distribution of public health resources. Lee criticized the DOH for failing to submit a comprehensive report on the availability of medicines and vaccines in public hospitals, a commitment made during the 2025 budget deliberations. “How can we improve healthcare if the department in charge cannot even fulfill basic responsibilities?” he questioned. The Bicolano lawmaker urged swift action to rebuild trust in the healthcare system, emphasizing that leadership changes may be necessary. “The Filipino people deserve a healthcare system led by capable and compassionate leaders,” he concluded. #HealthcareAccountability #StopTheWaste #WiseAdvocacy Healthcare Ethics and Legal Issues Previous Post Latest Posts 12 Dec 2024 Lee Questions Zero Gov't Subsidy For PhilHealth In 2025 10 Dec 2024 Lee Seeks Probe Of P11-B Expired Medicines, Vaccines In DOH Warehouses, Health Facilities 08 Dec 2024 Lee Urges Immediate Release Of Gov't Health Workers’ Long-Delayed Performance Based Bonuses Categories Healthcare Policy Public Health Initiatives Healthcare Ethics and Legal Issues Healthcare Access and Equity Spread the News
Lee Demands Urgent UHC Amendments For Better Health Benefits, Lower Member Contributions
Lee Demands Urgent UHC Amendments For Better Health Benefits, Lower Member Contributions “Gamot at pagpapagamot ng Pilipino, dapat sagot ng gobyerno!” This was the statement of Manoy Wilbert “Wise” Lee as he urged the passage of the amendments on the Republic Act (RA) No. 11223 or the “Universal Healthcare (UHC) Act” to institutionalize the comprehensive and appropriate increase in Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) benefits and lower the contribution of its members, among others. Lee filed House Bill No. 10995 which amends the UHC Act to resolve issues hampering genuine universal healthcare for Filipinos. “Various challenges and issues hinder the objectives of the UHC. These include lack of legal provisions that mandate the regular and periodic review of the responsiveness of benefit packages that should lower the out-of-pocket medical costs of Filipinos, inefficiencies in managing funds, and public health emergencies that disrupt the law’s implementation,” the Bicolano lawmaker lamented. “Ilang taon na mula nang naisabatas ang Universal Healthcare Act pero nandyan pa rin ang matinding pangamba ng mga Pilipino sa pagkakasakit dahil sa takot na malubog sa utang at kahirapan dahil walang pambili ng gamot o pambayad sa ospital. Hindi ito deserve ng Pilipino. Kailangang palakasin pa ang UHC Law para mas mabawasan ang pasanin at alalahanin ng ating mga kababayan sa kanilang kalusugan,” he added. Among the key changes included in Lee’s measure is the provision that the Health Technology Assessment Council will review and assess the amounts of each PhilHealth benefit package and ensure that these are up-to-date. Additionally, HB 10995 seeks to lower the premium contributions of PhilHealth members. Instead of the law’s mandated 5% premium in 2024 and 2025, the amendment pushes for 4% and 4.25% respectively. The proposed bill will likewise give the President the power to suspend PhilHealth premium contribution increases in a state of national emergency, public health emergency, or state of calamity. “Sa pagbubukas ng Kongreso, tututukan po natin ang agarang pagsasabatas ng panukalang ito na kailangan para maabot ang pinaka-layunin ng UHC,” Lee said. “Napakaraming pera ng PhilHealth, dapat ilaan ito di lang sa pagpapalawak ng mga benepisyo para sa mga Pilipino, kundi pati na rin sa pagpapababa ng kontribusyon na isa ring mabigat na pasanin ng marami nating kababayan,” he added. A staunch health advocate, Lee is at the forefront of holding the Department of Health (DOH) and PhilHealth accountable for its commitments to radically increase health benefits and for fighting for free diagnostic scans, free prescription eyeglasses and at least 80% coverage for cancer treatments and heart procedures, among others. Earlier, the solon from Bicol welcomed the issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) by the Supreme Court, halting the fourth and last tranche of PhilHealth fund transfer to the National Treasury, as there can be more funds for the radical expansion of PhilHealth benefits, which he has been consistently pushing for since last year. Lee successfully fought for the 30% increase in PhilHealth benefits, which was implemented last February 14. These include increasing the PhilHealth benefit package for hemodialysis from P2,600 to P6,350 per session and from 90 sessions per year to 156 sessions annually, as well as the increase in breast cancer treatment coverage from P100,000 to P1.4M. “Bawat araw ay marami tayong kababayan ang nangangambang magkasakit o nahihirapan sa karamdaman na hindi man lang nila maibili ng gamot o maipa-check up sa ospital dahil dagdag pa sa gastusin ng pamilya. Karapatan ito ng bawat Pilipino na dapat ipinagkakaloob ng UHC,” Lee remarked. “Hindi na puwede ang kulang-kulang na serbisyo at tingi-tinging dagdag sa mga benepisyong pangkalusugan. Hangad po natin na ang gamot at pagpapagamot ng bawat Pilipino, sagot na ng gobyerno. Gamot Mo, Sagot Ko! Yan ang ating ipinaglalaban, at patuloy natin itong tututukan hanggang sa maramdaman ng ating mga kababayan, lalo na ng mas nangangailangan,” he added. Healthcare Policy Previous PostNext Post Latest Posts 08 Nov 2024 Cong. Manoy Wilbert Lee Secures Free Prescription Glasses in PhilHealth Package, Ensuring Eye Care for All 07 Nov 2024 Lee Blasts DOH For Failure To Submit Comprehensive Plan To Lower Out-Of-Pocket Medical Costs 06 Nov 2024 Cong. Manoy Wilbert Lee’s Push for Free Optometric Services to Benefit 40M Filipinos Categories Healthcare Policy Public Health Initiatives Healthcare Ethics and Legal Issues Healthcare Access and Equity Spread the News