Photo credit: Bong Go

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has once again called on the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to expand its healthcare coverage, particularly for the country’s top ten leading causes of death. During a recent Senate Committee on Health and Demography hearing, Go emphasized the need for PhilHealth to prioritize preventive care and increase its benefits for high-cost diseases to ease the burden on Filipinos.

“Our mission for much improved public healthcare and expanded health services does not end with the scrapping of the [single period of confinement] policy,” Go said, pointing out that there’s still a long way to go to improve health benefits, especially for the most vulnerable Filipinos.

Go wasn’t shy about highlighting PhilHealth’s potential to do more, especially since the agency has sufficient resources. “May pera po eh, buti sana kung walang pera ang PhilHealth. Merong reserve fund kaya nga po winalis ng National Treasury kasi sobra-sobra po ang inyong pera,” he noted, stressing that PhilHealth has the capacity to expand its services further. He even urged them to think of additional benefit packages and increase case rates to reduce out-of-pocket expenses for the public.

PhilHealth’s Executive Vice President Atty. Eli Santos responded to Go’s comments by assuring the committee that PhilHealth is indeed ramping up its efforts. He stated that the agency plans to increase case rates by 50% across the board before the end of November 2024, and will introduce an expanded dental benefits package by December, along with updated guidelines for emergency care coverage.

But for Go, assurances are not enough. “Asahan po ninyo na tututukan po natin ito at hinding-hindi tayo papayag na mapako ang ipinangakong ito ng PhilHealth sa taumbayan," he declared, vowing to keep a close eye on the agency’s progress.

The discussion took a critical turn when health advocate Dr. Tony Leachon emphasized that any increase in PhilHealth’s case rates should target the most common and deadliest diseases. Go supported this view, highlighting the need to allocate PhilHealth’s ample resources towards tackling these high-burden conditions.

Go also pressed PhilHealth for more transparency, asking the agency to clarify how much of its reserve funds would be utilized for benefit expansion and what measures were in place to prevent mismanagement of these resources.

“Magkano ba’ng kailangan ninyong iwan sa inyong reserve fund na huwag munang gamitin? Dahil kailangan po ito for… sana walang pandemya ang darating sa buhay natin. Kung kailangan n’yo talagang mag-reserve fund, magkano ‘yung dapat ni-reserve at magkano ‘yung pwede ninyong gamitin pa to expand benefit packages, to increase case rates, para lesser out-of-pocket expenditure sa atin,” he challenged PhilHealth officials.

Go also brought up the need to reconsider PhilHealth’s existing policies on emergency outpatient services, which currently require a patient to be admitted for at least 24 hours before receiving coverage. He suggested that the agency explore using its funds to cover emergency outpatient services as well.

“Baka pwede n’yong pag-aralan itong emergency outpatient services na pinagbabawal ninyong i-cover pag outpatient… Kailangan n’yo pang ipa-admit ng 24 hours. Baka pwede n’yong pag-aralan at magamit ‘yung pondo ninyo pambayad dun sa mga emergency outpatient services,” he said.

To drive his point home, Go reiterated that the key to effective healthcare lies in prevention. He called on healthcare experts to actively participate in helping PhilHealth create benefit packages that focus on preventing diseases before they become serious—and expensive—to treat.

“Ako po'y nananawagan sa inyo, lahat d’yan, mga experts. Please, tulungan ‘yung PhilHealth. You suggest...marami pa. Let's go for prevention. Para hindi lumala. Mas makakatipid ang gobyerno,” he urged.

As the session concluded, Go didn’t mince words when he reminded PhilHealth officials about their duty to Filipinos. “Bakit hindi niyo po unahin ang prevention para maiwasan ang paglala ng sakit? Ba't hihintayin niyo pang ma-admit tapos hindi niyo naman tutulungan nang buo? Bakit hindi kayo tumulong for prevention? Marami pong sakit na pwede nating maagapan nang maaga. Mag-isip kayo, PhilHealth. Mag-isip kayo at magmalasakit kayo sa kapwa Pilipino,” Go said passionately.

With Go's firm stance, the pressure is now on for PhilHealth to deliver on its promises and take a more proactive approach to healthcare that places emphasis on prevention, better coverage, and ultimately, saving more Filipino lives.