Palace rejects privatization of PhilHealth
Malacañang is opposed to the proposed privatization of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) since it might defeat the government's purpose of providing universal health care coverage.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said transferring the PhilHealth management to a private entity could transform it into an institution that offers insurance which the country's poor might not afford.
Roque served as the primary author of Republic Act No. 11223 or the universal health care law when he was a member of the House of Representatives. The law, signed by President Duterte in February 2019, was patterned after the universal health care measures passed in the United Kingdom and Thailand, he said.
"Kaya po iyan nasa ilalim ng gobyerno dahil ang pagbigay po ng kalusugan ay isang karapatan ng taumbayan at obligasyon ng estado. (The reason it is under the government because providing healthcare is a right of the people and the obligation of the State)," he said
Kapag binigay po iyan sa private na mga kumpanya, insurance po iyan. At makikita naman na iyong scheme ng insurance ay hindi gumagana lalung-lalo na lugar ng gaya ng Estados Unidos na talagang ang mga mahihirap ay hindi po kayang bayaran ang paggagamot dahil wala po silang mga insurance (If we give it to the private companies, that becomes an insurance firm. And we have seen the insurance scheme does not work especially in places like the United States where the poor cannot afford healthcare because they don't have insurance)," he said.
Marikina City Rep. Stella Quimbo has filed a bill proposing the privatization of PhilHealth amid the corruption allegations hounding the state corporation. Under House Bill No. 7429, the President will be allowed to reorganize PhilHealth and privatize any or all segments of the company to make it more effective to address the social health insurance crisis.
Roque however said the proposed privatization of PhilHealth might make it difficult for Filipinos to get quality and affordable health care services. PhilHealth was created in 1995 to provide social health insurance coverage to Filipinos.
"As the primary author of the Universal Healthcare Law, kabaliktaran po ang objective natin. Kaya po nilagay natin sa gobyerno iyan dahil katungkulan ng gobyerno iyan, dapat bigyan ng katuparan (As the primary author of universal health care law, the objective will be the opposite. That's why we placed it under the government because (healthcare) is a duty of the government that must be attained)," he said.
On the investigation into the corruption allegations in PhilHealth, Roque said the President is optimistic the task force will find out the truth and hold accountable those involved in the irregularities.
The Office of the Ombudsman, one of the member-agencies of the investigating panel, recently ordered the suspension of several PhilHealth officials amid the ongoing corruption program.
Roque said the President recognizes the Ombudsman's authority to impose preventive suspension and would let the investigation take its course.
"Kampante po ang Presidente na given the composition and the integrity of the individuals behind the task force, lahat po ng may sala ay hindi lang masu-suspend kung hindi ay madi-dismiss at makakasuhan ng kasong kriminal. (The President is confident that given the composition and integrity of the individuals behind the task force, all offenders will not only be suspended but dismissed and charged with criminal complaints)," he said.