At a time when healthcare remains a critical concern for Filipinos, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has returned the focus to longstanding policies that many argue disproportionately affect the poor.

Among these is the outdated 24-hour confinement rule of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), a regulation that limited coverage for emergency outpatient services to cases where patients were confined for at least 24 hours.

“This is nonsense and anti-poor,” Go declared previously, when he urged PhilHealth to expedite its reforms to ensure accessibility for patients with urgent needs.

His pronouncements against the policy resonated deeply, gathering comments from frustrated citizens sharing their personal struggles under the defunct rule.

One commenter, Jo-Ed, shared their frustration over PhilHealth’s policies: “That’s right, sir. I hope PhilHealth does that instead of the money just going to corruption. They should give it directly to the people because PhilHealth is meant for the people.”

Inequitable rule

Another, Jamil, pointed out the glaring inequity of the policy: “Yes, this should be removed because many people are not assisted when the 24-hour requirement isn’t met. Meanwhile, hospital bills are still expensive even for a brief stay. It’s heartbreaking for patients, especially if they pass away and need to be discharged immediately.”

For many, Go’s Malasakit Centers have served as a vital support system, especially when PhilHealth’s limitations leave patients in financial distress.

Manilhynn recounted how a Malasakit Center provided relief after PhilHealth’s 24-hour rule left them without coverage.

During a Senate Committee on Health hearing chaired by Go on 18 December, PhilHealth Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Eli Dino Santos confirmed that the 24-hour confinement rule had been repealed. The decision was part of an effort to dismantle anti-poor policies and expand the agency’s coverage.

“The second to the last item is the repeal of anti-poor policies such as the 24-hour confinement policy, which prevents the coverage of emergency outpatient services for patients not needing facility admission. We have already removed this through the expanded coverage for emergency and urgent care package,” Santos said.