TINIYAK ni Budget and Management Secretary Amenah Pangandaman na walang matatapyas o mababawas na bilang na miyembro ng Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).
Napaulat na sinabi kasi ng Medical Action Group na ginawa ng DBM na i-“unilaterally removed” ang PhilHealth coverage para sa 30 milyong indibiduwal, kabilang na ang mga benepisaryo ng Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, at kanilang dependents.
“Under the Universal Health Care Act, all Filipinos are entitled to health insurance, whether as direct or indirect contributors to PhilHealth. The government subsidizes premiums for those who can’t afford them, ensuring even the most vulnerable are covered,” ang sinabi ni Pangandaman sa kanyang Facebook post.
“Claims that millions will lose their coverage are simply false, as PhilHealth is committed to fulfilling its obligations, backed by substantial funds,” dagdag na pahayag nito.
Ang papel aniya ng DBM ay para “faithfully [implement] the national budget,”
Committed rin aniya ang departamento na panindigan ang “transparency at open communication” para mapanatili na may kaalaman at suportado ang lahat ng miyembro nito.
Pinaalalahanan naman nito ang mga miyembro ng media na maging “thoughtful and responsible” sa kung ano ang ibinabahagi ng mga ito sa social media.
“Every post has the power to shape public opinion, impact lives, and influence the future of our nation. Hence, I urge every Filipino to use that power wisely — to lift each other up, not to spread fear or falsehoods,” ani Pangandaman.
“We are serious in our advocacy to counter misinformation that preys on fear and anxiety, undermining trust in our institutions as part of our responsibility to manage the country’s resources.” lahad ng Kalihim.
Araw ng Huwebes, Ipinahayag ng medical action group na walang kapangyarihan ang DBM na mag-alis ng membership sa PhilHealth.
Ang tugon ng DBM, nakatakda sa batas ang mandato ukol sa health insurance coverage para sa lahat ng mga filipino.
Winika pa ng DBM na ang national government ay hindi lamang para magkaloob ng premium subsidies para sa indirect contributors kundi para magbigay ng subsidiya sa mga walang kakayahan na magbayad para sa health insurance premiums sa pamamagitan ng probisyon ng subsidiya para sa Point-of-Service patients.
“Remember that what the government provides is the subsidy for the insurance premiums of indirect contributors and since they are already covered by this health insurance, it is now incumbent upon the PhilHealth as the insurer to pay the valid claims of its members,”ayon sa departamento.
Samantala, sinabi ng DBM na komukunsulta na ito sa legal team para sa posibleng paghahain ng legal actions laban sa medical group “for purveying malicious and misleading information to the public.” Kris Jose
