The Senate Committee on Health chaired by Senator Christopher Go will conduct an investigation into the diversion of Philhealth’s P89.9 billion unutilized funds to the national treasury.
As chairperson of the said committee, part of Go’s oversight functions is the implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law.
He stated that he will be launching an inquiry involving PhilHealth, Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of Finance (DOFj and the Department of Health (DOH) over the propriety and legality of the fund transfer.
The amount represents the unused government subsidy for PhilHealth.
The senator questioned why resources to assist sick Filipinos were left unused.
“I would like an explanation from the Executive on why these ‘excess funds’ existed while many patients were still struggling to pay for hospitalization and medical treatment,” stressed Go.
As discussions about reallocating these funds to the national treasury surfaced, Go emphasized the importance of their proper use.
He highlighted the need to ensure sufficient funding is placed on health programs that can directly benefit those in need.
Former Philhealth Independent Director Anthony Leachon warned if this will not be stopped, Philhealth will be a “milking cow” for unprogrammed appropriations and we can “kiss goodbye to UHC.”
He emphasized the fund transfer was against the UHC Law which provides that the excess of the PhilHealth reserve fund shall be used to increase the program’s benefits and to decrease the amount of members’ contributions.
“No portion of the reserve fund or income shall accrue to the general fund of the national government or to any of its agencies or instrumentalities, including government-owned or controlled corporations,” said Leachon.l, also a former DOH consultant.
He said PhilHealth must be held accountable for its gross negligence and inefficiency.
“Our legislators and policymakers must investigate this terrible lack of foresight and care for Filipino patients,” said Leachon.
“We know the POGO hearings are important but the P89.9 billion Philhealth fund diversion to unprogrammed appropriations is the biggest problem now. The cost is much bigger than the P42 billion Pharmally scandal,” he added.
In an interview over TeleRadyo Serbisyo on Saturday, Dr. Antonio Hans said during a recent meeting of 35 medical societies which included the Philippine Medical Association (PMA), that they came up with a proposal asking President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to create an independent “Benefit Development Agency” to decide and manage the use of Philhealth funds.
Due to its urgency, he said Mr. Marcos can issue a Presidential Decree on this instead of passing a law which will take time.
They also appealed to the President to return to PhilHealth the unused funds to enhance the healthcare services for the country’s poor.
The PMA said Marcos should institute measures to ensure the immediate enhancement of health benefits and form an independent agency to do this, if necessary.
Furthermore, Dans said the groups cited the need for a high-level meeting with the Commission on Audit (COA).
He acknowledged that the DOH and Philhealth were sometimes scared to spend due to COA.
In April, the Department of Finance (DOF) issued a circular mandating government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) to remit their excess funds to the national coffers.
