MANILA, Philippines – Hinimok ni Senador Loren Legarda ang istrikto at transparent na implementasyon ng mga bagong pagtaas sa benefit package ng Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) sa mga miyembro nito.
Sakop ng mga pagtaas ang ilang medical services, kabilang ang gamutan para sa ischemic heart disease (coronary heart disease), emergency outpatient services, kidney transplants, at adjustments ng hanggang 50% sa mga piling case rates.
Bagamat welcome para kay Legarda ang mga repormang ito, nabahala naman ang senador sa inconsistent na execution ng PhilHealth para rito.
“Although these reforms are welcome, we still need to see how PhilHealth will implement them effectively,” saad sa pahayag ni Legarda nitong Sabado, Enero 4.
“For instance, while there’s a 50% increase in select case rates, PhilHealth has not clarified which cases will be covered and how much will be allocated. This uncertainty only contributes to the lack of trust among PhilHealth members, who often delay seeking medical treatment until emergency situations arise.”
Ipinunto ni Legarda na maraming mga ordinaryong Filipino ang hindi komportable na magtungo sa mga ospital.
“An ordinary Filipino, despite being covered by PhilHealth, feels insecure to go to the hospital because the amount PhilHealth will cover is often unidentified and, when provided, is often low,” paliwanag ng senador.
“As a result, their out-of-pocket expenses consume a substantial part of the bill. Poor patients, despite universal healthcare coverage, are forced to seek assistance from other government programs, such as Guarantee Letters, or resort to loans just to cover the remaining healthcare costs.”
Iginiit ng senador na ang tagumpay ng PhilHealth ay masusukat sa kumpiyansa ng mga pasyente na magpagamot.
“True universal healthcare cannot exist if the coverage remains insufficient and uncertain,” sinabi pa ni Legarda.
“PhilHealth must reassess its organizational values and invest in our most valuable asset—our people’s health and trust,” pagpapatuloy niya.
“Up to the extent allowed by law and prudent corporate health, every centavo should go towards healthcare services for Filipinos. Investments can be secondary and incidental, used to generate returns on unused funds, but the priority must always be spending on services that directly benefit the people.”
Iginiit din ni Legarda na bagamat nasa tamang direksyon ang mga pinakabagong reporma, hindi naman nakakapagbigay ng malinaw na paliwanag ang PhilHealrh kung paano magdudulot ng tunay na improvement ang mga pagtaas sa benepisyo.
“While a 50% increase may seem like a significant boost, for certain conditions, the actual costs of treatment should be a key consideration,” aniya.
Dahil dito ay nanawagan ang senadora ng evidence-based decisions, at hinimok ang PhilHealth na siguruhing ang mga repormang ito ay hindi lamang across-the-board increases kundi target ang mga tunay na nangangailangan. RNT/JGC
