Some senators oppose PhilHealth's appeal to delay Universal Health Care roll out

MANILA - Several senators on Wednesday opposed the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation's (PhilHealth) request to delay the implementation of the Universal Healthcare (UHC) Law, even as collections this year plunged due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The UHC is "critical" in the Philippines' crusade against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said in a statement.

"To halt the implementation of a law that would promote access to affordable care, strengthen our primary health care and make our people healthy to fight the virus is a step in the wrong direction," Drilon said.

"If COVID-19 taught us one thing, it is that we need to keep people healthy and we have to prepare for the next pandemic. UHC is the key," he said.

• PhilHealth seeks delay of Universal Healthcare implementation

Postponing the full implementation of the UHC - which automatically enrolls all Filipino citizens in the National Health Insurance Program - "could discourage poor people from seeking hospital treatments or primary health care even if they experience COVID-19 symptoms," the Senate Minority Leader said.

Aside from a drop in collections, PhilHealth has been struggling to cover beneficiary claims after its proposed P153 billion budget was reduced to P71.3 billion under the 2020 General Appropriations Act, the agency's President Ricardo Morales earlier told lawmakers.

"We will meet 'yung mga benefit payment requirements for the entire year of 2020. But pagdating ng next year, delikado na ho. Our financial position will be very grim," Morales said during an online joint congressional oversight hearing.

• PhilHealth forecasts 'grim, dangerous' financial position in 2021 due to COVID crisis

The national government should "invest" in the country's healthcare system by "providing subsidies" to PhilHealth during the pandemic, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto told reporters in a text message when asked for comment.

"All the more, we must proceed with implementing universal health care law," Recto said.

"We must invest in upgrading our health infrastructure and providing better health services for our people. This will provide confidence and solidarity with government," he said.

Senate Health Committee chair Christopher "Bong" Go had urged economic managers to give PhilHealth a higher budget to fully implement the UHC this year.

"Gawan dapat ng paraan na taasan ang subsidy sa PhilHealth... Now more than ever, dapat ma-prioritize and health," Go said.

Drilon said funds from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) may also be used for the implementation of the UHC after sin taxes reported dropped in the first 5 months of 2020.

"If we learned anything about the onset of the pandemic, it is that the health sector must get a big part of the budgetary pie," Drilon said.

"The health of the people is the State's responsibility," he said.