By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
QUEZON CITY — A day before the oral arguments of the issues and concerns on the Universal Health Law, medical and health advocates on Monday (Feb. 3) divulged that they will sign a petition against House Bill 11360 believing in the “good heart” of the lawmakers.
Almost a hundred individuals, mostly heads of Healthcare organizations have signed in the petition against the legislative measure in the Rollback of Sin Tax in the 19th Congress.
In a press conference in Kamuning Bakery Cafe, Dr. Juan Antonio “Jeepy” Perez III, Former Undersecretary for Population and. Development, Commission on Population and Universal Health Care Collective, said that the DOF bloated PhilHealth “excess funds” in the presentation of DOF Secretary Ralph Recto on July 30, 2024 in the Senate.
Recto noted when Recto made the Senate report, the COA Report has not yet been issued.
The amount of P28.08 billion for 4Ps was not yet given. PhilHealth allegedly had P488 billion in excess funds, but PhilHealth had many liabilities than assets such that PhilHealth had a total liabilities of P1.1 trillion based on the COA Report.
PhilHealth has big liabilities which are not enough anymore for its reserves.
The zero budget of PhilHealth affected one of its members, Dr. Perez III said, in the sense that 4Ps members of PhilHealth would really require longer period of time before they can avail of PhilHealth benefits or they have to pay for two months of premiums before they can apply for PhilHealth benefits.
The indirect PhilHealth contributors are the 4Ps beneficiaries, senior citizens, indigents, and PWDs.
Dr. Perez III noted that if the Konsulta Package of about P190 billion for 114 million Filipinos or P1,700 per year was released in 2022 or 2023, more Filipinos would have benefitted, which would also benefit the OFWs (overseas Filipino workers).
However, he said, only about P100 billion was released for 100 million Filipinos out of 114 million as of 2023, or P1,000 per year in health package.
He stressed that if the health packages, especially cancer package of PhilHealth will be released, it should have the corresponding facility of a tertiary hospital and sufficient funds for the purpose.
Dr. Perez III added that only government hospitals have the capacity for the “zero billing” such that PhilHealth covers P14 out of P100 expenditures in the hospitals.
He cited a recent study which showed that that only 30% of the 4Ps beneficiaries know that they are covered by PhilHealth.
“if there is P100 billion or whatever is left in the reserve funds of PhilHealth, would not be sufficient enough to fund the P190 billion for the 114 million Filipinos,” Dr. Perez III said.
Prior to the oral arguments, health advocates will present how, contrary to the defenses of Congress and the President, actions by Congress and the Executive destroy Universal Healthcare and gravely threaten the health of the Filipino people.
Dr. Antonio Miguel L. Dans, Academician, National Academy of Science and Technology and Professor Emeritus of University of the Philippines College of Medicine, and Vice President of St. Luke’s Medical Foundation, said that every Filipino families has somewhat suffered in the availment of PhilHealth benefits.
Dr. Dans noted that a 5% deduction every month is made on the salary of public and private workers under the contract with PhilHealth.
Republic Act 11223, otherwise known as the “Universal Healthcare Law”, Section 11 provides for the Program Reserve Funds of the National Health Insurance Program.
The DOF collected the P60 billion reserve funds from PhilHealth, which was supposed to be P90 billion, if not the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order ( restraining (TRO) stopping such transfer of funds.
According to Dr. Dans, scientists made an analysis that the reduction in tobacco excise tax would not result in the stoppage of smuggling of tobacco products and less tobacco consumers, but rather, it would destroy the Universal Healthcare Program of the government.
Dr. Dans added that they are continuously appealing to the kind heart of the lawmakers not to pass into law House Bill 11360 which will affect them and their families.
He stressed that lawmakers cannot legislate the health benefits of PhilHealth, but health benefits assessment should be done by competent authorities.
Dr. Dans cited Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero and Senate Committee on Ways and Means Chairperson Senator Win Gatchalian, who may be responsible for the passage of the Rollback on Sin Tax, if and when House Bill 11360 is passed on Third and Final Reading in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (Feb. 4).
Dr. Dans pointed out that there are one death every 6 minutes, 47 smoking-related diseases, 20 cancer-causing illnesses and P750 billion were the earnings lost due to tobacco smoking.
Only P170 billion was the income derived
