MANILA, Philippines — Senator Christopher “Bong” Go urged the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to fulfill its commitments under the Universal Health Care Act during a Senate Committee on Health hearing on November 25. Go, who chairs the committee, called for actionable results from PhilHealth President Emmanuel Ledesma Jr., emphasizing that promises must translate into real benefits for the Filipino people.
“Let’s hope you can transform from ‘Boy Promise’ to ‘Boy Tupad,’” Go quipped, challenging Ledesma to ensure that PhilHealth’s pledges lead to tangible improvements in healthcare access.
The senator highlighted critical areas for benefit expansion, including assistive devices, visual and dental care, as well as preventive services. He pointed out the dire situation in rural areas, where some residents resort to using thread for tooth extractions due to a lack of proper dental care. “In our provinces, some folks use thread to pull out their teeth,” he noted, illustrating the urgent need for enhanced dental services.
Go, a vocal advocate for health reform, stressed the importance of prioritizing preventive care, particularly for vulnerable populations such as children. “If PhilHealth has excess funds, please expand your benefit packages. Prevention is better than cure,” he added, underscoring the need for early intervention to prevent severe health conditions like cataracts.
In October, the Senate Health Committee received a commitment letter from PhilHealth outlining its plans to implement reforms in line with the Universal Health Care Act. Key proposals include dental benefit packages for consultations and dentures by December 31, 2024, outpatient drug packages for essential medicines, and mental health services, all aimed at improving healthcare accessibility.
Additional initiatives targeting optometric services for early detection of refractive errors and the provision of assistive devices like wheelchairs and crutches are also on the agenda, with implementation timelines set for late 2024.
Go called for a focus on preventive care, particularly for schoolchildren, who often face undiagnosed vision issues. “Many children are not getting their eyes checked, leading to conditions like cataracts,” he warned, advocating for accessible optometric services.
During the hearing, Ledesma provided an overview of PhilHealth’s achievements and ongoing challenges under the Universal Health Care mandate. He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to equitable healthcare and thanked Go and the Senate for their support.
However, Go remained resolute, stressing that financial barriers should not prevent Filipinos from seeking necessary medical care. He recounted a heartbreaking story from Ozamiz City, where a patient chose to remove their oxygen support due to financial constraints. “It broke my heart to hear that,” Go lamented, urging PhilHealth to address systemic issues that hinder access to healthcare.
The senator emphasized that PhilHealth’s resources should directly benefit the poorest Filipinos, reiterating, “PhilHealth is for health. Let’s help our less fortunate countrymen.” He encouraged PhilHealth to operate with compassion and reassure the public that financial barriers to hospitalization must be eliminated.
As discussions concluded, Go acknowledged the reforms and benefit expansions proposed by Ledesma as positive steps but insisted they must result in real improvements for the underserved. “We need to dispel the fear of hospitalization caused by costs,” he asserted, calling on PhilHealth to ensure that all Filipinos can access the healthcare they need without financial anxiety.
