Senate leaders oppose PhilHealth’s proposal to delay UHC implementation

Several senators on Wednesday expressed opposition to the recommendation of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to delay the implementation of the Universal Health Care law as it projected a four-year fund deficit.

The UHC law, which automatically enrolls all Filipino citizens to the National Health Insurance Program, was enacted in February 2019. Its implementing rules and regulations were signed in October of the same year.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said the national government can and should provide subsidies to PhilHealth amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We must invest in upgrading our health infrastructure and providing better health services for our people. This will provide confidence and solidarity with [the] government," Recto said.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon also described the proposed postponement of UHC law implementation as a "huge misstep."

"While other countries are working on ways to strengthen primary health care to prevent the spread of the virus, we would hear plans to postpone access to affordable care,” he added.

“If COVID-19 taught us one thing, it is that we need to keep people healthy and we have to prepare for [the] next pandemic. UHC is the key,” he said.

Drilon also urged the Department of Budget and Management to increase funding for the health sector in 2021.

"The health sector must get a big part of the budgetary pie. Health of the people is the state’s responsibility," he added.

Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, chair of the Senate committee on health, vowed to lobby for a higher budget for PhilHealth and raise the P71 billion subsidy that the DBM has initially earmarked for the state health insurer in 2021.

"Ako po ay nananawagan sa mga economic managers na pagtuunan ito ng pansin. Napakaimportante po ng PhilHealth sa atin at sa health care system. Gawan dapat ng paraan na taasan ang subsidy sa PhilHealth para mas mapagaan ang burden sa ordinaryong tao," Go said.

"Now more than ever, dapat ma-prioritize ang health. We must do what we can to ensure that every Filipino can have access to universal health care for all," he added.

On Tuesday, PhilHealth president Ricardo Morales recommended a general delay on the implementation of the UHC as well as the postponement of the primary care benefit expansion after he pointed out a projected fund deficit until 2024. 

He said the COVID-19 crisis led to lower collection of PhilHealth contributions and that a P138-billion subsidy for 2021 is needed to cover indigent members, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and UHC expansion, among others.

"To tell you the truth, our collection is about 10% of what it was last year. The collection from the direct contributors is not significant kasi walang negosyo, walang nagbabayad ng premium sa mga direct contributors, and yung indirect that also depends on business activity, has also suffered a downturn," he said.

"So we are falling back on our reserve which we anticipate is going to take a hit," he added.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the Department of Health will be coordinating with the economic managers for guidance on how to adjust the budgetary requirements for the implementation of the UHC law given the decreasing sin tax collections amid the pandemic. — RSJ, GMA News