CONGRESSMANWilbert “Manoy” T. Lee on Monday deferred the House plenary deliberations on the proposed 2025 budget of the Department of Health (DOH) and its attached agencies, including the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) due to inaction and lack of specific plans on reducing the out-of-pocket expenses of Filipinos on medical services.
During the House plenary debates, Lee moved to defer the proposed DOH budget multiple times as he was not satisfied by the responses of the agency regarding the implementation of the PhilHealth benefits increases which he is persistently pushing for.
This led to the suspension of the House deliberations on the DOH budget for 2025.
“Nakakadismaya po itong ganitong ginagawa ng DOH. Nagbibingi-bingihan ba ang mga opisyal ng Kagawarang ito o manhid na ba ito sa mga hinaing ng mga Pilipino pagdating sa kulang-kulang na serbisyong pangkalusugan? Bakit hindi nila maibigay ang dapat at kayang ibigay para sa buhay at kalusugan ng ating mga kababayan,” Lee lamented.
Lee earlier blasted the DOH who leads the Benefits Committee (BenCom), the sub-committee responsible for the policy directions and benefits development of PhilHealth, on why its benefits packages remain unresponsive to the needs of members and beneficiaries
“Nganga na lang ba tayo habang hinihintay kung kailan nila i-a-approve yung panawagan natin para sa mas maganda at ramdam na benepisyo mula sa PhilHealth? Diyos po ba itong mga tao na ito, na malamang ay nandito sa harap natin ngayon. Kung nandito po sila at kinakailangan ako na ang magmakaawa para sa taumbayan, gagawin ko. Maawa kayo sa mga Pilipino,” Lee stressed as he questioned the lack of urgency and inaction of the members of the PhilHealth Benefits Committee led by DOH.
“Paghihintayin na naman ba tayo? Para saan pa, para i-dribble na naman tayo sa sunod na budget deliberations? Since hindi nila ibinigay at itinaas yung mga benepisyong paulit-ulit na po nating itinutulak dito bago ang plenary deliberations, wala sila ni anumang anunsyo sa plano o timeline na hinihintay ng publiko, o kung ano ang problema kung saan pwede natin silang tulungan, napakalaking kasalanan ang ginagawa nila sa taumbayan,” Lee remarked.
“We are not only violating their rights, worse, we are allowing them to die without a fight,” he added.
According to the Bicolano lawmaker, with the hundreds of billions of PhilHealth funds, he was “left with no choice” but to defer the DOH budget until the agency submits the following:
– a detailed and comprehensive plan with timeline on how to lower the out-of-pocket expenses of Filipinos on their hospitalization costs;
– implement a radical increase in the benefit package to include diagnostic tests such as the PET scan, MRI and CT scan as part of the outpatient services covered by PhilHealth;
– revised benefit plan approved by the PhilHealth Board with implementation timeline;
– implement full coverage for cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and procedures for heart diseases;
– implement the benefits increase across the board by 50% effective immediately;
– inclusion of optometric services and eyeglasses in PhilHealth benefits package not later than September 30;
– expansion plan on PhilHealth accredited facilities in providing various special medical services like breast cancer;
– implementation timeline of the Konsulta program of PhilHealth;
– comprehensive report on medicines and vaccines, including latest statement of allotment, obligation and disbursement
– Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) latest statement of allotment, obligation and disbursement including plans and timelines in acquiring medical equipment for public hospitals.
“We need a radical overhaul and not incremental change in our health financing. Radikal, hindi tingi-tingi na suporta sa serbisyong pangkalusugan,” the solon from Bicol said.
“Sabi nga, ‘bawat buhay mahalaga,’ pero bakit napako tayo sa ‘bakit buhay, mahal’ na para makapagpagamot at madugtungan ang buhay ay dapat gumastos nang pagkamahal-mahal? Dapat gamitin ang pondo sa kalusugan para sa kalusugan!” he added.
A staunch health advocate, Lee successfully pushed for the 30% increase in PhilHealth benefits which was implemented last Feb. 14.
There is no final schedule yet when will the plenary deliberation on DOH budget will resume, but the House Plenary debates is set to be finished this week.
“Seryosong usapin ang kalusugan. Buhay ang nakataya dito. Maninindigan tayo hanggang dulo dahil laban ito ng bawat Pilipino. Hindi ko po ito tatantanan!” Lee said.
“Illness shouldn’t cost livelihoods. Patas at mapagmalasakit na serbisyong pangkalusugan, gawin na natin hanggang sa maging libre na ang gamot at pagpapagamot ng bawat Pilipino,” he added.
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