Bong Go urges PhilHealth reform, slams mismanagement

Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, raised critical issues surrounding the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) during a Senate hearing on Wednesday, 18 December. The discussion focused on delayed reforms, mismanagement of funds, and the slow implementation of the Universal Healthcare (UHC) Law.

Senator Go opened the session by questioning the timing of PhilHealth’s efforts to increase case rates and expand benefit packages. Addressing PhilHealth president Emmanuel Ledesma, Go pressed for accountability regarding the agency’s financial reserves and their utilization.

Go questioned whether the implementation of the increases in case rates and the expansion of benefit packages had been delayed, suggesting that if these changes had been made earlier, rather than in the final days, the agency could have avoided accumulating excess funds that were ultimately taken by the National Treasury. He argued that early action could have helped poor patients benefit from these reforms sooner, and the issue of surplus funds might have been prevented.

Go criticized PhilHealth for the delayed implementation of reforms, noting that proactive fund utilization could have alleviated the suffering of many Filipinos. He pointed out that while the Department of Finance mandates a reserve fund of P281 billion, PhilHealth’s assets had ballooned to P628 billion.

Go emphasized that if proper planning had been done at the start of the year, there wouldn't have been excess funds or such a large reserve fund. He also noted that if the budget had been organized from the beginning, particularly in forecasting needs, the financial situation could have been more manageable without the surplus.

He underscored the importance of adhering to the legal limit for reserve funds, stating that excess reserves could have been allocated to critical healthcare services.

Senator Go also expressed frustration over the incomplete implementation of the UHC Law, emphasizing its intent to make healthcare accessible to all Filipinos. “Remember, PhilHealth is not a business; it’s for health. That’s why we’re members of PhilHealth, and that’s why we have the Universal Healthcare Law — to benefit patients, not to make them fear seeking care,” he declared.

He also criticized PhilHealth for its failure to effectively promote awareness of programs like Konsulta, which aims to provide preventive healthcare services. He pointed out that, out of the 115 million Filipinos who are members of PhilHealth, only a few are actually aware of the Konsulta program, highlighting the lack of outreach and information about its availability and benefits.

The Senate Committee on Health committed to ongoing oversight to ensure PhilHealth’s compliance with the UHC Law and accountability in managing public funds. Senator Go reiterated his call for timely and effective reforms, urging PhilHealth to prioritize its mandate over bureaucratic inefficiencies.

“PhilHealth is not there to make a profit. It exists to ensure patients feel secure and are not afraid to seek hospitalization,” he stressed.