The House of Representatives will conduct an investigation related to how the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. spends. (PhilHealth) its fund after discovering billions of pesos "excess" in the agency's fund.
“Next year, Congress will begin a thorough and fair investigation into PhilHealth's fund management. Its purpose is not to blame anyone, but to find a solution," said Speaker Martin Romualdez in his speech before Congress went on holiday break.
Romualdez assured the public that the investigation will ensure that every peso in PhilHealth's coffers is properly used for the benefit of its members—hardworking Filipinos who contribute monthly.
According to Romualdez, when it is proven that PhilHealth has "unusable" or "excess" funds that are not needed for current operations, they will promote the temporary cessation of members' contributions, reduction in premium contributions, and expansion of benefits until reaching "zero billing."
Last week, members of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability announced that aside from the P60 billion "surplus" in PhilHealth funds transferred to the National Treasury, it still has billions of pesos in funds that can be used before the end of the year. 2024.
According to PhilHealth President and CEO Emmanuel Ledesma Jr., they have a P150 billion surplus, P281 billion in reserves, and an investment portfolio of almost P489 billion as of October. PhilHealth Chief Financial Officer Renato Limsiaco explained that surplus funds, after benefits are paid, are put into investments.
“Kapag nabayaran na ang mga benepisyo, ang sobrang pera ay gagamitin para sa investments,” ani Limsiaco.
Pinuna naman ng mga lider ng House of Representatives ang PhilHealth dahil mas inuuna nito ang investments kaysa sa pagpapabuti ng serbisyong pangkalusugan para sa mahigit 110 milyong Pilipino. Dahil dito, nanawagan ang mga mambabatas para sa pagbabawas ng premium at reporma na magpapakinabang sa milyon-milyong miyembro nito.
Sa nakaraang pagdinig ng komite ni Rep. Joel Chua, binatikos ng mga mambabatas ang patuloy na paglobo ng pondo ng PhilHealth, dahilan upang ipanukala ng Kongreso na alisin ang subsidiya para sa ahensya sa ilalim ng P6.35 trilyong pambansang badyet para sa 2025.
Ipinaliwanag ni Ledesma na matatag ang pananalapi ng PhilHealth at nag-anunsyo pa ng plano na dagdagan ng 50 porsyento ang coverage ng karamihan sa case rate packages nito.
However, the representatives expressed disappointment that despite the high number of reserves and investments of PhilHealth, it is still unable to provide significant relief for Filipinos struggling with the rising cost of health services.
"Does this mean that the subsidy that should have been for improving health services was allocated to investments instead of health?" asked Chua.
"It seems that you are prioritizing the aspect of investments over the health service, which is being sacrificed now. Your focus should be on improving health care benefits. The real investment here is the lives of our countrymen," he insisted.
