Groups turn to SC to block diversion of P89.9B PhilHealth funds

Various groups and organizations filed a petition before the Supreme Court Monday to block the diversion of P89.9 billion funds of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to the national budget.

Petitioners Sen. Koko Pimentel, Cielo Magno, Ma. Dominga Cecilia Padilla, Dante Gatmaytan, Ibarra Gutierrez as well as organizations Sentro ng Mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa, Inc., Public Services Labor Independent Confederation Foundation, Inc., and Philippine Medical Association represented direct and indirect PhilHealth contributors.

PhilHealth to recommend decrease in contribution

Respondents to the petition are the House of Representatives represented by Speaker Martin Romualdez, Senate represented by Senate President Francis Escudero, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and PhilHealth represented by its President Emmanuel Ledesma, Jr.

The petitioners argued that the insertion of the provision on unprogrammed appropriations exceeds the power of Congress to appropriate funds under the Constitution.

They also stressed that the 2024 GAA on unprogrammed appropriations cannot amend the provisions of the Universal Health Care Act on PhilHealth.

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“Naniniwala po tayo na ang provision na ito ay unconstitutional at inconsistent sa mga batas na mayroon na tayo, lalong-lalo na sa usapin ng universal health insurance,” said Magno.

The petitioners noted that the UHC Act is only halfway through its ten-year implementation timeline with Filipinos still have to shoulder 45.95% of out-of-pocket health expenditure in 2022, according to the World Health Organization Global Health Expenditure.

The insertion also violate peoples’ right to health by denying them access to quality and affordable health care goods and services.

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“Ang gusto natin eventually, five years na di ba, dapat ngayon libre na ang maintenance medicines kung masusunod ang UHC Act pero alam natin na wala pa at kung talagang susundan itong UHC Act, dapat this year 500 plus billion ang igagastos kaya yung sinasabi nilang sobra na 90 billion, kulang na kulang ang pera para sa atin,” said Padilla.

Meanwhile, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said the Department of Finance is ready to answer any question on the legality of its directive to the state insurer to remit billions of excess PhilHealth funds.

“As I stated before the Senate, I believe that public health deserves the full support of the government—a position which I have maintained in my three decades in Congress. I want to make it clear that I never opposed any recommendations to reduce PhilHealth member contributions,” he said in a statement.

“I reiterate that whatever measures by the government to source financing for its programs and projects are undertaken consistent with the belief that its capacity to address the primary needs of our people—including health—is not compromised. This is borne out by the fact that the President has already announced that the PhilHealth will enhance its benefits, with improved medical aid packages for a broad range of illnesses, such as pneumonia, hypertension, and cancer.”