Former PhilHealth director Dr. Tony Leachon hailed the Supreme Court’s decision to return P60 billion in reserve funds to the agency, calling it a “landmark ruling” that protects the country’s universal healthcare system.

In a DZRH radio interview on Saturday, Leachon said the ruling ends the long-standing practice of using PhilHealth funds for purposes outside its mandate.

“Ang pera po ng PhilHealth ay para sa PhilHealth kasi special funds ‘yan,” he said.

Leachon noted that PhilHealth is a key pillar of the Universal Healthcare Law, alongside health workforce, infrastructure, and funding. 

The returned funds can help expand benefit packages, reduce premiums, and lower out-of-pocket costs for patients. He also praised Supreme Court Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier for making the release of P29.9 billion “immediately executory,” preventing future fund realignments.

PhilHealth resources come from direct contributions and sin tax allocations for indigent families, persons with disabilities, and senior citizens. Coverage for indigent beneficiaries alone requires P74 billion annually.

However, Leachon expressed concern over timing, noting that the 2025 government subsidy for PhilHealth is zero. He warned that delaying reimbursement to 2026 could deprive Filipinos of much-needed healthcare benefits.

He called for vigilance from the public and lawmakers to ensure PhilHealth funds are properly used. The restored funds, he said, could also strengthen preventive programs like YAKAP and help reduce the current 46 percent out-of-pocket healthcare spending to 30 percent.

“I’ll take this as a big win, a landmark victory for the Filipino people,” Leachon said, emphasizing the need to protect universal healthcare and sin tax funds.