PhilHealth coverage only half of DOH woes; service, supply still wanting

Returning Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Saturday said that extending the services of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to the remaining percentage of Filipinos not yet covered is only half of the problem.

He also pointed out that finding the remaining nine to 15 percent of Filipinos is already daunting task as many of the indigents are indigenous peoples in remote areas.

The other half, he said, is addressing to lack of health service facilities.

"Kung mahanap mo sila, halimbawa mabigyan ng PhilHealth card, meron bang supply ng pangkalusugang serbisyo doon sa area na yun?" he said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

He explained the issue in a demand-supply manner, saying the demand side, or giving out PhilHealth cards, is easy.

"Yung demand side, madali, magbigay ka, magpamudmod ka ng PhilHealth card, okay yun, pero hindi sapat yan eh," he said.

"Kalahati lang yan ng equation. Yung susunod na kalahati ay yung supply side. Meron bang ospital, meron bang health delivery infrastructure, meron bang mga doktor, may mga nurses?" 

Earlier, interim Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial pointed out that the Philippines suffers from "underinvestment" in health care.

She claimed in an interview after her appointment was rejected by the Commission on Appointments that the country's per capita spending for health in 2015 was a "very low" $130, compared to healthcare model Cuba's $460.

Reappointed Duque, who led the Department of Health during former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's administration, also expressed caution on expanding PhilHealth benefits.

He said that increasing health service coverage is good, but hie expressed fears for the longevity of PhilHealth funds if "aggressive" benefits are pursued, adding that this may be "disadvantageous" for beneficiaries in the future.

Medical Marijuana

On another note, Duque said he will study carefully the science behind the proposal seeking the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes, citing both its palliative benefits and its possible political implications.

The House Committee on Health in September approved a bill for that purpose. —LBG, GMA News