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 Questions Zero Gov’t Subsidy For PhilHealth In 2025
Lee Questions Zero Gov’t Subsidy For PhilHealth In 2025 Manoy Wilbert “Wise” Lee questioned the removal of government subsidy for the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) in the 2025 General Appropriations Bill recently approved by the Bicameral Conference Committee. According to Lee, the decision will worsen the burden of direct contributors and affect the beneficiaries of the subsidy such as indigents, senior citizens, unemployed persons with disabilities (PWDs), and financially-incapable Point-of-Service patients, among others. “Malinaw na salungat ito sa layunin ng Universal Health Care (UHC) Law. Taumbayan na naman ang kawawa dito na ang puno’t dulo ay ang kakuparan at kapalpakan ng ilan na dapat mangasiwa sa paggamit ng pondong nandyan na para mabawasan ang pangamba ng mga Pilipino lalo na sa kanilang kalusugan. Paano na ang mahihirap nating kababayan na tumatamasa ng benepisyo mula sa subsidiyang ito?” the Bicolano lawmaker asked. “Mahigit isang taon na natin itong ipinaglalaban. Pero kung manhid at nagbibingi-bingihan ang mismong pinuno ng DOH na si Secretary Ted Herbosa, na siya ring Chairperson ng Benefits Committee at PhilHealth Board, talagang magiging usad-pagong ang mga dagdag benepisyong ipinangako nila sa Kongreso at sa taumbayan,” he lamented. It can be recalled that Lee also opposed the transfer of PhilHealth’s P89.9 billion excess funds to the National Treasury. “Ang pondo para sa kalusugan ay dapat gamitin para sa kalusugan. Hindi ito dapat gamitin sa mga proyekto na di kasing halaga ng kalusugan ng ating mga kababayan, o sa mga proyektong wala namang mamamatay kung hindi gagawin,” the solon from Bicol earlier stressed. “Nasaan ang hustisya kung taumbayan ang magdurusa at mapagkakaitan ng benepisyo sa kasalanan at mga pagkukulang ng mga ahensya na may mandatong pagaanin ang pasanin ng mga Pilipino sa kanilang gamot at pagpapagamot. Walang karapatang manatili sa gobyerno ang walang pakialam sa hirap at pangambang araw-araw hinaharap ng milyon-milyon nating mga kababayan,” the lawmaker remarked. A staunch health advocate, Lee persistently pushed for the 30% increase in PhilHealth benefits 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 the breast cancer treatment coverage which increased from P100,000 to P1.4 million. The Bicolano lawmaker is also the first to expose in 2023 that PhilHealth had an enormous available funds amounting to P466 billion investible funds and P68.4 billion net income, stressing that these should be used to expand health benefits and lower the premium contribution. Last September 25, Lee was able to secure the commitments from the Department of Health (DOH) and PhilHealth to provide a comprehensive plan to lower the out-of-pocket medical expenses of Filipinos. He spearheaded the initiative for free optometric services and free eyeglasses, and is also pushing for free diagnostic tests such as Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan, Computed Tomography (CT) scan and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as part of outpatient services, at least 80% coverage for cancer treatments and heart procedures, and another round of 50% increase in PhilHealth benefits. “Karapatan at deserve ng Pilipino ang sapat na pondo para ipatupad ang de-kalidad, maaasahan at mapagmalasakit na serbisyong pangkalusugan. Hindi magbabago ang paninindigan natin: Dapat palawakin at dagdagan pa ang mga benepisyong pangkalusugan hanggang sa maging libre na ang gamot at pagpapagamot ng bawat mamamayan,” he added. 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