AS chair of the Senate Committee on Health and as part of his oversight functions on the implementation of the Universal Health Care Law, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go expressed intent to seek answers from PhilHealth, DBM, DOF and DOH on the propriety and legality of the purported transfer of around P90 billion, representing unused government subsidy for PhilHealth, to the national treasury.
“Simple lang naman ang mga tanong ng mga kababayan natin: tama at legal ba ang ginawa ng DOF at PhilHealth? Kung oo, saan naman ito gagamitin?” asked Go.
He continued, expressing his primary concerns as a guardian of public health:
“Ako naman bilang senador na prayoridad ang kalusugan ng bawat Pilipino, ang aking pangunahing concern dito: Bakit may PhP90 billion na excess funds ang PhilHealth na hindi nagamit para mas palawakin at palakasin pa ang benefit packages na makakatulong sa ating mga kababayan?”
Addressing the issue of unutilized funds, Go questioned why resources meant to assist sick Filipinos were left unused:
“Hindi katanggap-tanggap na may pondong nand’yan na hindi nagamit para matulungan ang bawat Pilipinong miyembro naman ng PhilHealth.”
He clarified that this call is simply to ask for an explanation from the Executive on why these ‘excess funds’ existed while many patients were still struggling to pay for hospitalization and medical treatments.
“Nais nating malaman ang paliwanag ng Ehekutibo kung bakit may ‘excess funds’ ang PhilHealth habang maraming pasyente pa rin ang naghihingalo at walang pambayad ng kanilang pagpapaospital o pampagamot. Bakit hindi ito nagamit para tulungan sila?” he asked.
As discussions about reallocating these funds to the national treasury surface, Go emphasized the importance of their proper use:
“Ngayon na ibabalik ‘yang pondong ‘yan sa national treasury, para sa akin, unang-una, dapat hindi ito masayang. Pangalawa, dapat ang makabenepisyo pa rin diyan ay ang taumbayan, lalo na ang mga mahihirap at may sakit.”
He stressed the need to ensure sufficient funding is placed on health programs that can directly benefit those in need:
“Ang pondong nakalaan para sa kalusugan ay dapat magamit para sa kalusugan tulad ng pangtulong sa mga pasyente, pagsasaayos ng health facilities at pambayad ng mga utang sa health workers.”
“Gamitin din sana ito para sa tamang implementasyon ng Universal Health Care Law kung saan ginawang miyembro ng PhilHealth ang bawat Pilipino, ang Malasakit Centers Law na parte talaga ang PhilHealth sa mga ahensyang may mandatong magbigay ng medical assistance, at pati na rin sa pagpapalawak lalo ng Konsulta package ng PhilHealth,” suggested Go.
In April, the Department of Finance issued a circular mandating that government-owned and controlled corporations, including PhilHealth, remit their excess funds to the national coffers.
More than 35 medical groups, including the Philippine Medical Association, have called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to reallocate to PhilHealth the full amount of the unused funds, estimated at P89.9 billion, for the explicit purpose of enhancing the healthcare services for the country’s poor.
“Sariwa pa sa isip natin ang hamon noong pandemya kung saan nabigla tayo at nakita ang mga butas sa ating healthcare system. At hanggang ngayon, madaming ospital pa rin ang lumalapit sa akin kasi kulang daw ang kagamitan nila at hindi maayos ang mga pasilidad. Marami pa ring health workers ang naniningil ng kanilang HEA. At higit sa lahat, marami pa ring pasyente ang nagmamakaawa na makakuha ng tulong pampagamot,” Go stressed.
“Pera naman ng taumbayan ‘yan na originally intended for healthcare. Kaya siguraduhin nating bawat piso riyan ay makasalba man lang ng buhay. Tandaan natin na ang kalusugan ay katumbas ng buhay ng bawat Pilipino!” he ended.
