Anakalusugan Rep. Ray Reyes committed to continue the party-list’s push for free healthcare as he submitted the party-list’s Certificate of Nomination and Certificate of Acceptance of Nomination (CONCAN) to the Commission on Elections.
“For 10 years, the benefits of PhilHealth have been idle, but with 2 years of constant calls from us, we were able to urge the agency to expand its benefits,” said Reyes, who was joined by Batangas Gov. Hermilando “Dodo” Mandanas, party-list third nominee Rey Roquero of Antique and Sto. Tomas Mayor Arth Jun Marasigan.
Reyes noted Anakalusugan called for better health packages of the state health insurer and responsive health programs under the Department of Health.
“We advocated for the increase to 156 covered dialysis treatment from 96 free sessions every year. From P2,000 per treatment, we advocated for more and got P4,000 coverage per dialysis treatment. With this, dialysis procedures are almost free,” he said.
Reyes, vice chairperson of the House Committee on Health, also noted Anakalusugan’s “Libreng Pagamot” tagline, emphasizing that their Free Check-Up Bill essentially served as the template of Philhealth’s Konsulta package which offers health consultation services under the Universal Health Care Act.
“Filipinos deserve better healthcare, and we are here to make sure they get it,” he said.
If given a fresh mandate, Anakalusugan party-list, which deployed over 100 medical and dental missions annually conducted in rural areas, will work to make community-based healthcare free for every Filipino, Reyes said.
“An honest to goodness implementation of a fully-funded Universal Health Care Act will provide for these services at no cost to sick Filipinos and their families,” Reyes said.