Makabayan hits PhilHealth budget hike, PGH budget cut

The Makabayan bloc has questioned the proposed P67-billion budget for the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation for 2020 or 40 percent of the Department of Health’s proposed P166 billion budget for 2020 despite PhilHealth's low utilization rate of its budget.

Makabayan bloc party-list legislators Carlos Zarate, Ferdinand Gaite, and Euphemia Cullamat of Bayan Muna; France Castro of Alliance of Concerned Teachers, Arlene Brosas of Gabriela, and Sarah Elago of Kabataan noted that it is baffling that Philhealth got such a huge amount, which they said could instead go to state-run Philippine General Hospital.

The PGH's proposed budget for 2020 has been reduced to P2.7 billion for 2020 from P3.2 billion this year.

“Napakalaki naman niyang sa Philhealth, considering that we are dealing with dengue, measles and leptospirosis. Bakit napakalaki ng inilaan sa kanila eh napakaliit… 10 to 11 percent lang naman ang utilization ng PhilHealth?,” Gaite said.

Gaite said the PGH's meager budget would make it difficult for the hospital to fulfill its mandate to provide accessible health care services to the public.

“The PGH is our premiere government hospital. Dito nagpupunta ang mga maralita at indigent patients. Ang nirequest ng PGH, P4.5 billion. P2 billion ang nawala sa kanila,” Gaite said.

“Bakit hindi tayo maglagay ng pondo diretso sa mga ospital, sa hospital facilities at iba pang social services. How can the PGH truly provide the necessary service para sa ating mga mamamayan kung ganyan,” Gaite added.

“Taon-taon na lang, kinakakitaan natin ng budget cut ang DOH. Eh hindi mga maresolba ang administrasyon ang dengue,” Brosas added, referring to the ongoing national dengue epidemic.

Prior to Makabayan’s call, former Health Secretary and Iloilo Representative Janet Garin questioned PhilHealth’s P67-billion budget largely for the implementation of the Universal Healthcare Law amid the lingering controversy concerning fake, if not ghost beneficiaries pocketing government subsidy to PhilHealth. — MDM, GMA News