Updated:2025-01-28 04:08 Views:99
FILE PHOTO: The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation admits that the “unnecessary suffering for millions of Filipino members” was due to disagreements of policies with the Department of Health (DOH). INQUIRER/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) admitted that the “unnecessary suffering for millions of Filipino members” was due to disagreements of policies with the Department of Health (DOH).
During a hearing of the House committee on good government and public accountability on January 22, PhilHealth President Emmanuel Ledesmashowtime acknowledged overlaps in the functions of the DOH and the state health insurer. He agreed that the inefficiencies must be resolved to improve healthcare delivery in the country.
Article continues after this advertisementHe issued these affirmations as Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janette Garin criticized PhilHealth officials for failing to coordinate effectively with the DOH, noting that lapses have delayed healthcare services and wasted resources.
FEATURED STORIES NEWSINFO Palace: January 27, 2025 is a Muslim holiday, not national NEWSINFO 903 police officers dismissed from service in 2024, says PNP NEWSINFO Marcos lawyer named to PIAThe House committee on good government and public accountability was looking into the inefficiencies, duplication of roles, and unused government subsidies of the two agencies.
“In other words, PhilHealth cannot shoulder all health problems, and the DOH cannot cover all hospital expenses either,” Garin, who is a former DOH secretary, said in Filipino in a statement released Sunday.
Article continues after this advertisementREAD: House leaders press PhilHealth to defer 2025 premium collections
Article continues after this advertisement“DOH is for promotive and preventive healthcare, while PhilHealth should focus on curative healthcare and catastrophic illnesses,” Garin likewise explained.
Article continues after this advertisement“DOH purchases should not be reimbursed by PhilHealth. PhilHealth packages should not overlap with DOH packages,” she added.
hacksaw slotsIn the same hearing, PhilHealth Vice President Lemuel Untalan said efforts to refine member enrollment lists and remove ineligible beneficiaries are underway.
Article continues after this advertisementHowever, he noted that data from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) which is only updated every four years contribute to inefficiencies in the members list.
READ: PhilHealth has zero subsidy for 2025 due to P600B reserve funds
Lawmakers have questioned the retroactive enrollment of senior citizens before the Universal Health Care law took effect. Garin even criticized the outdated enrollment process as it led to unused funds that could have been utilized to expand benefits or lower premiums.
Garin likewise flagged the persistent issue of hospitals inflating prices for medicines and laboratory tests when patients use their PhilHealth to cover hospital expenses.
“When PhilHealth pays, the prices of medicines and laboratory tests suddenly increase,” she said.
MANILA – The local stock market shed on profit-taking, while the peso ended weak on Thursday.
Health Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo meanwhile assured lawmakers that they are doing something to improve coordination between the DOH and PhilHealth.
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Ledesma, for his part, vowed to address the policy gaps and provide Congress with a report on how unused funds are managed.
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