Photo credit: Senator Bong Go

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go is making waves again with his relentless push for better healthcare for Filipinos. His hard work as Chair of the Senate Health Committee has led to a significant milestone: the inclusion of the top 10 mortality diseases in the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) benefit package. This move has now received a stamp of approval from the Department of Finance (DOF).

In a recent statement, DOF Secretary Ralph Recto expressed strong support for tripling the PhilHealth benefit package for these common illnesses. It's a clear sign that the government is aligning its efforts to ease the burden of healthcare costs on Filipino families.

Go’s initiative didn’t just happen overnight. It was the result of 11 dedicated Senate hearings where he challenged PhilHealth to provide a written commitment to improve benefit packages by December 2024. His message was clear: promises aren’t enough. “It’s time to deliver results,” Go emphasized.

For Go, this is a step in the right direction, but the journey doesn’t end here. “Hindi rito nagtatapos ang laban. Dapat may aksyon, may resulta, at higit sa lahat may malasakit,” he pointed out. His focus is on reducing out-of-pocket expenses for families who often find themselves struggling to cover medical costs.

The senator’s passion for healthcare reform stems from the staggering figures that show many Filipinos suffer due to inadequate medical support. A 2021 World Bank report highlighted the Philippines as having one of the highest out-of-pocket health expenditures in Southeast Asia—a statistic Go frequently mentions in his advocacy for affordable healthcare.

“Maraming pamilyang Pilipino ang nahihirapan sa gastusin sa ospital. Ang layunin natin ay mapagaan ito para mas maraming makabangon,” he shared.

Go has also been a driving force behind PhilHealth’s significant policy changes. These include scrapping the Single Confinement Policy and adjusting case rates to lessen the financial burden on patients needing costly treatments.

As Go continues his crusade, one thing is certain: he’s determined to ensure that healthcare funds are used efficiently and effectively, always keeping the welfare of the people at heart. "Ang pondong para sa health ay dapat gamitin po para sa health," he reiterated.

With the DOF's backing, Go's vision for a more inclusive and supportive healthcare system is closer to becoming a reality. But as he reminds everyone, the fight for accessible and quality healthcare isn’t over yet.