LEE DEMANDS DOH TO PROVIDE MORE EQUIPMENT IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS, SEEKS AMNESTY ON HOSPITALS, DOCTORS WITH UNRESOLVED CASES
LEE DEMANDS DOH TO PROVIDE MORE EQUIPMENT IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS, SEEKS AMNESTY ON HOSPITALS, DOCTORS WITH UNRESOLVED CASES Healthcare Policy “Walang kwenta ang mga dagdag benepisyo kung walang mga gamit at ospital.” This was the statement of Manoy Wilbert Lee as he reiterated his call for the Department of Health (DOH) to fast-track provision of medical equipment, including Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan, Computed Tomography (CT) scan and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and other diagnostic tests and facilities in public hospitals. During the House Committee on Health hearing on the increase in Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s (PhilHealth) benefit packages on Wednesday, Lee underscored that the improved services should be complemented by equipping hospitals and other medical facilities with medical equipment needed by Filipino patients. “Masasayang lang ang mga dagdag na coverage kung wala namang mga gamit at makina. Napakarami nating kababayan na kapag sinabihan na kailangang magpa-CT scan, hindi na bumabalik dahil mahal ang gagastusin. Ngayong may sasagutin na ang PhilHealth, hindi pa rin ito agad mapakinabangan dahil ilan lang ang ospital na may ganitong pasilidad. Ang PET scan equipment, NKTI (National Kidney Transplant Institute) at UP Philippine General Hospital lang ang meron, gaano pa katagal ang hihintayin nila?” Lee said. It can be recalled that the Bicolano lawmaker sealed commitments from the DOH and PhilHealth last September 25, 2024 which include submitting an implementation plan with definite timeline of acquiring medical equipment for public hospitals under the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP). Moreover, Lee in his bid to complement the new PhilHealth benefits, raised his plan to file a bill granting amnesty for cases involving hospitals and doctors and payment of denied claims due to late filing and penalty reductions for employers. “Maraming kaso na maliliit at mga kasong dahil sa double entry or double payments. Nabanggit ko na po ito nung 2023 pa, mga kaso na P2,000 ang halaga, pero ang penalty ay aabot ng P300,000, tapos suspendido pa ang ospital, na dahilan kung bakit hindi makatanggap ng PhilHealth patients,” Lee stated. “Kailangan po natin na mas maraming ospital na nakakapagbigay ng serbisyo sa ating mga kababayan. Kung masususpinde sila at haharap sa mga kaso na kung tutuusin ay maliit lang naman, sa huli, apektado ang kanilang serbisyo,” he added. During the said hearing, the solon from Bicol secured a commitment from PhilHealth to support the said measure. “From the side of PhilHealth, 100 percent support po. It will solve a lot of problems. We are with you 100 percent,” PhilHealth President and CEO Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. said. While Lee acknowledges the success of PhilHealth for the new benefits, a result of his persistent push since he exposed the billions of available funds of the state health insurer in September 2023, he stressed that the lack of hospitals and facilities would hamper the delivery of quality and accessible healthcare benefits to Filipinos. “Ang ipinaglalaban natin, libreng gamot at pagpapagamot. Magtulungan tayo, ang gobyerno at pribadong sektor, para makamit ito at talagang mapagaan ang pasanin ng taumbayan. Hindi pwedeng kanya-kanya at maging pabigat pa tayo sa isa’t isa!” Lee said. A staunch health advocate, Lee paved the way for the implementation of improved PhilHealth benefits such as the not less than 95% increase in coverage of 9,000 case rates, inclusion of optometry and free prescription glasses, free dialysis, expanded coverage for breast cancer treatment, new benefit package for kidney transplant and heart ailments, and outpatient emergency care services, among others. The Bicolano lawmaker then reiterated the importance of an effective information dissemination campaign on the health benefits for all Filipinos nationwide. “Bukod sa dagdag na mga benepisyo, dagdag na mga kagamitan at ospital, dapat pagsikapan pa natin ang pagbibigay-alam sa mga Pilipino ng mga serbisyong libre at sagot na ng gobyerno. Paano nila mapapakinabangan ang mga ito kung hindi nila alam?” asked Lee. “Dapat mawala na ang pangamba ng ating mga kababayan na magkasakit dahil sa takot na malubog sa utang at kahirapan ang kanilang pamilya. Ang layunin ko: Gamot Mo, Sagot Ko!” he said. Previous Post Latest Posts 15 Jan 2025 LEE DEMANDS DOH TO PROVIDE MORE EQUIPMENT IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS, SEEKS AMNESTY ON HOSPITALS, DOCTORS WITH UNRESOLVED CASES 09 Jan 2025 Manoy Wilbert 'Wise' Lee: Doubling Down on PhilHealth Benefits Amid Rising Health Care Costs 08 Jan 2025 Amid expected 18% increase in PH health care costs LEE TO DOH, PHILHEALTH: RAMP UP MORE BENEFIT INCREASES WITH BILLIONS OF FUNDS Categories Healthcare Policy Public Health Initiatives Healthcare Ethics and Legal Issues Healthcare Access and Equity Spread the News
Lee Seeks Probe Of P11-B Expired Medicines, Vaccines In DOH Warehouses, Health Facilities
Lee Seeks Probe Of P11-B Expired Medicines, Vaccines In DOH Warehouses, Health Facilities Manoy Wilbert “Wise” Lee has filed a measure to investigate the P11 billion worth of expired medicines and vaccines in Department of Health (DOH) warehouses and health facilities, recently flagged by the Commission on Audit (COA). In filing House Resolution No. 2117, Lee stressed that “the expiration of these essential drugs, medicines and vaccines, which the DOH allowed to deteriorate without proper utilization or timely action, constitutes a clear dereliction of duty and a violation of their mandate.” “Kulang-kulang na nga ang mga gamot sa mga pampublikong ospital, nangangamba at hirap na hirap na nga ang milyon-milyon nating kababayan sa pagbili ng gamot, tapos may bilyon-bilyong halaga ng gamot, bakuna at iba pang medical supplies ang nag-expire lang at hindi pinakinabangan ng mga Pilipino?” “Napakalaking kasalanan nito sa taumbayan. Pera na nila ang nasayang, napagkaitan pa sila ng serbisyo para sa kanilang kalusugan,” Lee pointed out. In the recent COA report, P11.18 billion worth of drugs, medicines and medical supplies, including over 7 million vials of COVID-19 vaccines that were unused, expired in DOH warehouses and health facilities. Among the reasons cited for such wastage are inadequate procurement planning and poor distribution and monitoring systems. Further, inventories amounting to P65.44 million with a shelf life of less than one year were also found in DOH facilities, nearing wastage. “Congress should conduct an inquiry into the DOH’s procurement and logistical processes to hold the involved officials and personnel accountable, identify underlying systemic issues, and ensure that public health resources are utilized efficiently, properly accounted for, and distributed in a timely and effective manner,” Lee said. “Dapat may managot sa krimeng ito at hindi na dapat pang maulit ang napakalaking kapalpakan na ito,” he added. The Bicolano lawmaker also urged the DOH to “submit a comprehensive report to Congress detailing the status of all expired supplies, including COVID-19 vaccines, and the steps taken to address the situation.” It can be recalled that during the last House Plenary Deliberations on the DOH Budget last September, Lee inquired about the lack of medicines in public hospitals. “Mayroong bilyon-bilyong pondo para sa mga gamot pero bakit kinakailangan pang bumili ng mga kababayan natin sa labas ng ospital? Bakit kailangan pa nilang gumastos para sa gamot kahit na sa charity wards sila naka-admit? Isa pa ito sa dumaragdag sa out-of-pocket expenses nila; dagdag isipin ng may sakit; dagdag pasanin ng pamilya,” the solon earlier said. Lee then sealed the commitment from DOH to submit a detailed and comprehensive report on the availability of medicines and vaccines in public hospitals due last October 31, but the DOH failed to submit this report to Congress. With these continued inefficiencies and lapses, Lee renewed his call for the resignation of DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa as numerous fundamental health issues remain unaddressed to this day. “The Filipino people deserve a better healthcare system. Hindi natin maibibigay sa mga Pilipino ang mga dagdag at nararapat na mga benepisyong pangkalusugan kung manhid at walang pakialam ang namumuno sa DOH,” the lawmaker stressed. “Huwag nating hayaan na mabaon lang sa limot ang bilyon-bilyong halaga ng gamot at bakuna na nasayang at masasayang pa dahil sa kawalan ng direksyon at epektibong mga polisiya. Walang karapatang manatili sa pwesto ang pabigat sa taumbayan. Ang gamot at pagpapagamot, dapat libre na, dapat sagot na ng gobyerno!” he added. Healthcare Ethics and Legal Issues Previous Post Latest Posts 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 06 Dec 2024 Lee to DOH, PhilHealth: Prioritize Healthcare Payments of Indigent Patients, Simplify Processes Categories Healthcare Policy Public Health Initiatives Healthcare Ethics and Legal Issues Healthcare Access and Equity Spread the News