MEDICAL costs in the Philippines are projected to rise by 18.3% in 2025, marking the second-highest increase in the Asia Pacific region. This sharp surge, as reported by the WTW Global Medical Trends Survey, underscores growing challenges in the country’s healthcare sector, including increased use of services, higher hospital and clinic costs, and a rising prevalence of diseases.
Against this backdrop, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go reiterated the need of expanding healthcare access and strengthening social programs for Filipinos. He also highlighted the pressing issue of rising medical costs, which often force Filipinos to rely on out-of-pocket expenses, putting an additional strain on their livelihood.
During an interview with Brigada News FM Manila’s Tira Brigada program on Monday, January 6, Senator Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, outlined his healthcare priorities for 2025, focusing on three key initiatives: Malasakit Centers, Super Health Centers, and Regional Specialty Centers.
He explained that Malasakit Centers serve as one-stop shops to assist Filipinos in accessing government medical services and financial aid. “Mayroon na po tayong 166 na Malasakit Center sa buong Pilipinas,” he said.
Senator Go is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 11463, or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program. The Department of Health (DOH) reports that the Malasakit Center program has already provided aid to more than 15 million Filipinos.
For remote communities, Super Health Centers play a critical role in decentralizing healthcare. “Halimbawa ang Batangas, may Super Health Center sa Tingloy. It’s an island, dalawang oras ang biyahe papunta sa ospital. Ngayon po mayroon na silang Super Health Center,” Senator Go shared. More than 700 of these centers are funded nationwide, with over 100 to be added this year through his collaboration with DOH, LGUs and fellow lawmakers.
In response to the rising costs of specialized medical care, Senator Go pushed for the establishment of Regional Specialty Centers. These facilities aim to decentralize specialized healthcare services, such as heart and cancer treatment, which are currently concentrated in Metro Manila. “Kami pong mga probinsyano, tayo na nasa malalayong lugar ay wala pong access sa Heart Center dahil nasa Quezon City,” he noted.
Senator Go principally sponsored and is one of the authors of Republic Act No. 11959, also known as the Regional Specialty Centers Act. The law mandates the establishment of regional specialty centers within existing DOH regional hospitals.
The WTW report noted that Philippine medical insurance costs have been rising by double digits for three consecutive years due to a rebound in claims frequency beyond pre-pandemic levels and higher expenses for medical services. While slightly lower than the 2024 projection, this trend is expected to remain elevated in the long term. WTW attributed the escalating costs to increased claims and the rising cost per claim due to higher medical service and procedure expenses.
A significant portion of the interview also touched on reforms in the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). Senator Go expressed frustration over past inefficiencies, such as the planned transfer of excess funds to the National Treasury which was halted by a Supreme Court TRO, instead of being used for expanding benefit packages. He highlighted recent policy changes, including the removal of the 24-hour confinement policy, as steps in the right direction but stressed the need for continued vigilance.
“Ang PhilHealth po hindi negosyo ‘yan. Medical insurance ‘yan para ‘pag tayo’y nagkasakit mayroon tayong sumasagot sa bayad sa ospital,” he said.
In a commitment letter received by Senator Go’s office earlier in 2025, PhilHealth outlined a comprehensive plan to enhance healthcare services and expand benefit coverage for Filipinos, focusing on the top mortality diseases in the country. By December 2024, the organization aimed to implement significant increases in benefit packages for conditions like heart diseases, diabetes, respiratory illnesses, and hypertension.
Furthermore, case rates were adjusted by up to 50% across the board by November 2024 to alleviate out-of-pocket expenses, supplementing earlier adjustments made in February 2024.
The benefit expansion includes diverse packages such as dental services, outpatient drug coverage, mental health support, optometric services, assistive devices, emergency outpatient services, and medical transportation. Notable additions are diagnostic tests like CT scans, MRIs, and angiograms, as well as chemotherapy and treatments for critical illnesses. Rehabilitation services will also see broader coverage. Policies deemed anti-poor, such as the 24-hour confinement rule, will be repealed, and the “no co-payment policy” mandated under Republic Act No. 11233 will be strictly enforced.
After numerous appeals by Go during the past Senate Health Committee hearings, PhilHealth commited to fulfill these commitments as well as advocating for the suspension of premium contribution increases, expanding accredited healthcare facilities, and conducting information campaigns to raise public awareness about available benefits.
In closing, Senator Go reiterated his commitment to helping pursue accessible and affordable healthcare for all Filipinos. “Happy, healthy new year po sa inyo. Ang wish ko po ngayong taong ito ay maayos na kalusugan sa bawat Pilipino,” he said, encouraging everyone to work together to overcome the challenges in the healthcare sector.
