Lee Urges DOH to Prioritize Healthcare, Fast-Track Benefit Enhancements
Lee Urges DOH to Prioritize Healthcare, Fast-Track Benefit Enhancements Cong. Manoy Wilbert “Wise” Lee has called on the Department of Health (DOH) and PhilHealth to fast-track the implementation of expanded health benefits for Filipinos, warning that continued delays in utilizing available funds are perpetuating a broken healthcare system. Lee emphasized that the recent benefit increases approved by PhilHealth’s Board of Directors are insufficient to meet the urgent needs of the population. “The funds are there, but the action is missing,” Lee said. “We cannot allow healthcare funds to remain unused while millions of Filipinos forego treatment due to high costs. The government owes it to the people to deliver timely and effective health services.” Lee highlighted his achievements in securing benefit increases, including a 30% hike in PhilHealth case rates and expanded coverage for hemodialysis and breast cancer treatment. Despite these successes, he stressed that more needs to be done to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses for Filipinos. The solon also called attention to systemic inefficiencies within the DOH, including the failure to submit a comprehensive plan to Congress for lowering hospital costs. He warned that the lack of leadership and accountability is undermining the Universal Health Care Law. “Healthcare is a right, not a privilege. The government must ensure that no Filipino is left behind,” Lee concluded. #HealthForAll #WiseLeadership #GamotMoSagotKo Healthcare Policy Previous Post Latest Posts 30 Dec 2024 Lee Urges DOH to Prioritize Healthcare, Fast-Track Benefit Enhancements 27 Dec 2024 Lee Demands Accountability from DOH, PhilHealth Over Delayed Health Benefits 26 Dec 2024 Lee Calls for Proactive PhilHealth Reforms to Benefit Filipinos by 2025 Categories Healthcare Policy Public Health Initiatives Healthcare Ethics and Legal Issues Healthcare Access and Equity Spread the News
Lee Calls for Proactive PhilHealth Reforms to Benefit Filipinos by 2025
Lee Calls for Proactive PhilHealth Reforms to Benefit Filipinos by 2025 Cong. Manoy Wilbert “Wise” Lee has reiterated his demand for immediate and comprehensive reforms in the Philippine healthcare system, urging the Department of Health (DOH) and PhilHealth to prioritize the release of expanded health benefits. While the PhilHealth Board recently approved a 50% increase in selected case rates and new benefits such as optometric services for children and open-heart surgery, Lee said these efforts fall short of the commitments previously made to Congress. “Filipinos deserve better. Despite repeated calls to utilize PhilHealth’s over ₱500 billion in available funds, progress has been excruciatingly slow,” Lee lamented. “These funds are not ‘excess’—they are meant to alleviate the burdens of our people, especially in securing affordable medical care and medicines.” The Bicolano lawmaker also pointed to the inefficiencies within the DOH and PhilHealth as contributing factors to the healthcare system’s inadequacies. He stressed that the unused funds could have already financed critical services like diagnostic tests and hospital procedures for vulnerable Filipinos. “Every day of delay is another day millions of Filipinos suffer,” Lee added. The health advocate concluded by calling on the DOH to make it their New Year’s resolution to proactively enhance health benefits and ensure that every peso in public health funds is used effectively. “The focus should be on saving lives, not delaying action,” he said. #HealthcareReforms #PhilHealthFunds #WiseLeadership Healthcare Policy Previous Post Latest Posts 30 Dec 2024 Lee Calls for Proactive PhilHealth Reforms to Benefit Filipinos by 2025 25 Dec 2024 Lee Urges Action to End Healthcare Delays, Opposes PhilHealth Zero Subsidy 24 Dec 2024 Lee Calls for Accountability in PhilHealth Fund Utilization, Slams Delays Categories Healthcare Policy Public Health Initiatives Healthcare Ethics and Legal Issues Healthcare Access and Equity Spread the News
Lee Urges Action to End Healthcare Delays, Opposes PhilHealth Zero Subsidy
Lee Urges Action to End Healthcare Delays, Opposes PhilHealth Zero Subsidy Cong. Manoy Wilbert “Wise” Lee has renewed his call for a comprehensive plan to address delays in health benefit implementation, warning that PhilHealth’s lack of urgency is leaving millions of Filipinos without adequate healthcare support. He also criticized the removal of government subsidy for PhilHealth in the 2025 budget, describing it as a direct result of inefficiency and poor planning. “The zero subsidy for PhilHealth is not because the funds are surplus—it’s because they’re unused. These are funds meant to save lives, and their idleness reflects a dereliction of duty by those in charge,” Lee said. He called out DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa for failing to deliver a detailed plan to lower out-of-pocket healthcare costs, despite committing to do so during budget deliberations. Lee pointed to recent successes, including the approval of free eye checkups, expanded heart procedure coverage, and a 50% increase in case rates, but stressed that much more needs to be done. “These measures are just the beginning. We cannot tell Filipinos to delay getting sick or postpone their surgeries while we wait for benefits to be implemented,” he said. The solon called for a shift in policy direction, emphasizing that healthcare should be free and accessible to all. “The government must act with urgency and compassion. Every peso of unused funds is a missed opportunity to save lives,” he concluded. #HealthIsARight #PhilHealthReforms #WiseMoves Healthcare Policy Previous Post Latest Posts 30 Dec 2024 Lee Urges Action to End Healthcare Delays, Opposes PhilHealth Zero Subsidy 24 Dec 2024 Lee Calls for Accountability in PhilHealth Fund Utilization, Slams Delays 23 Dec 2024 Filipinos deserve better! LEE DEMANDS IMPROVED PH HEALTHCARE SERVICES BY 2025 Categories Healthcare Policy Public Health Initiatives Healthcare Ethics and Legal Issues Healthcare Access and Equity Spread the News