SEN. Bong Go said the funds of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) should serve the public’s health needs rather than be unutilized, mishandled or diverted.
The chairman of the Senate Committee on Health reiterated his appeal to PhilHealth to “accelerate overdue reforms, maximize available funds and meet healthcare needs of the poor.”
Go emphasized the importance of ensuring that “every peso contributed by citizens to PhilHealth is used effectively.”
In a radio interview on Jan. 9, Go addressed concerns about PhilHealth’s alleged mismanagement and inefficiencies.
He said health care funds “should be used solely for improving health services.”
Go cited past instances of questionable plans, including the transfer of PhilHealth’s excess funds to the National Treasury, which he slammed as “counterproductive and morally wrong.”
“Don’t wait for you (PhilHealth) to generate excess funds. Use that for our poor fellowmen,” he said in Filipino.
The senator highlighted real-life cases where PhilHealth’s policies “fell short in serving Filipinos.”
Go recounted the plight of a provincial health officer from Camarines Norte who “faced staggering hospital bills amounting to millions but received minimal coverage from PhilHealth.”
He also pressured the agency to scrap the 24-hour confinement policy, which required patients to be admitted for at least a day before they could qualify for insurance coverage. PhilHealth officials have since committed to its removal.
Go expressed disappointment over the zero government subsidy allocated to PhilHealth for 2025, questioning how the agency could expand its services without adequate funding.
Be the first to comment