SBG slams as ‘anti-poor’ Philhealth’s defunding

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go voiced strong objections to a provision in the ratified Bicameral Committee Report on the 2025 General Appropriations Bill that proposes a zero subsidy for the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) in 2025.

Go warned of the negative implications of this decision on poor Filipinos and the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law’s implementation.

“While it was revealed during Senate Health Committee hearings that PhilHealth has over P500 billion in reserve funds, I do not agree that we should entirely remove government support for its subsidy. This is unacceptable and anti-poor,” Go said.

The senator stressed that despite PhilHealth’s reserve fund, government backing is crucial to expanding its services and ensuring that healthcare benefits reach those who need them the most.

“How can PhilHealth expand its benefits for Filipinos if the government does not provide even a single peso in subsidy?” he asked.

Go, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health, emphasized that defunding PhilHealth could hinder progress toward the UHC Law’s goals, particularly reducing out-of-pocket medical expenses for Filipinos.

“The UHC Law aims to significantly lower medical expenses for Filipinos in the coming years. We are far from achieving this goal, and this zero budget for PhilHealth could set us back further,” he noted.

He also highlighted the potential impact on indigent patients, arguing that enhanced PhilHealth benefits could ease their financial burdens, enabling them to allocate resources for essential needs such as food and medicine.

While Go acknowledged the need for PhilHealth to use its existing funds efficiently, he called on lawmakers to uphold their responsibility to direct government funds toward healthcare initiatives.