Palace rejects PhilHealth’s call to delay implementation of Universal Health Care program

Malacañang on Thursday rejected the proposal of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to delay the implementation of the Universal Health Care law due to funding concerns brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a televised briefing, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the request of PhilHealth president Ricardo Morales had no legal basis.

“Ito po ay labag sa literal na probisyon ng batas at doon po sa intensiyon ng mga nagsulong ng batas na ito,” Roque, who backed the measure when he was still a party-list lawmaker, said.

Roque reminded PhilHealth officials to implement the law, which was passed only last year, or else the national government may look for other individuals to do the task.

“Kung hindi ninyo po mapapatupad ang isang batas na sinertify urgent ng Presidente mismo, dahil ang nais niya magkaroon ng libreng gamot at libreng pagamot ang lahat ng Pilipino gaya ng ginawa niya sa Davao, eh siguro po hahanap na lang po ng iba na pupuwedeng magpatupad niyan,” he said.

Morales told lawmakers on Tuesday that the state insurer is projected to have a fund deficit in the next four years as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which shut down businesses and displaced millions of workers.

The workers are among those who pay insurance premiums to PhilHealth.

Morales recommended a general delay in the implementation of the Universal Health Care program as well as to postpone the expansion of the primary care benefit.

However, Roque said on Wednesday that PhilHealth was losing money due to corruption, which Morales allegedly failed to address. Morales refuted Roque’s claim, saying  around 20 PhilHealth officials and employees are facing charges before the National Bureau of Investigation and the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission.

Roque said he would ask for a meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte and Morales to discuss the alleged corrupt practices in the agency.

“Mayroon po kasing insider mismo na nagsabi na ang halagang nawawala sa PhilHealth dahil sa korapsyon ay hindi bababa sa P154 billion over a period of five years,” Roque said.

“Ang gagawin ko na lang po siguro, hihingi ako ng pagpupulong kay Presidente nang sa ganoon maimbitahan si General Morales at pupunta rin po ako para masabi ko naman kung ano talaga ang aking damdamin.”

Morales assumed PhilHealth’s top job in June last year. — RSJ, GMA News