AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee (Facebook)

The office of AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee trumpeted on Friday, Oct. 4 the support that his newfound advocacy for improved healthcare services had gained in an out of Philippine Congress. 

Lee, a senatorial aspirant under Aksyon Demokratiko Party, earlier secured a commitment from the Department of Health (DOH) and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) for the "radical increase" in healthcare benefits to lower Filipinos' out-of-pocket medical expenses. 

Lee had stressed during last month's budget process that, "We need a radical overhaul and not incremental change in our health financing. Radikal, hindi tingi-tingi na suporta sa serbisyong pangkalusugan.” 

(A radical increase, not a piecemeal support for healthcare service.) 

It was during these budget discussions in the House of Representatives that the rookie congressman secured a commitment letter signed by DOH Secretary and Chairman of PhilHealth Board Ted Herbosa and PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. for the improvement of health services. 

According to Lee, DOH and PhilHealth promised to implement a 50 percent across-the-board PhilHealth benefits increase effective November 2024; free diagnostic tests such as PET scan, CT scan and MRI as part of outpatient services; and coverage of at least 80 percent for cancer treatments and heart procedures not later than Dec. 31, 2024, among other additional health services. 

The same commitment letter was used by health reform advocate Dr. Tony Leachon as a model to urge the Senate Committee on Health and Demography in making the health agencies accountable to increase benefits, especially with PhilHealth’s billions of funds which Lee exposed last year. 

During a Oct. 2 Senate panel hearing, Leachon, holding a copy of the commitment letter, said: “I think, this should be a commitment exercise letter in front of the public, streamlined, para malaman ang commitment nila (so that they know what the commitment is)…Dapat ho ganun ang gawin natin para hindi ho tayo napapaglalangan (We should do this so that we won't get tricked).” 

Meanwhile, in a Sept. 27 interview, former Department of Finance Undersecretary Cielo Magno lauded Lee for his persistent advocacy in pushing for transparency from the PhilHealth Benefits Committee, the sub-committee responsible for the policy directions and benefits development of the state health insurer. 

“Maganda yung sinasabi ni Cong. Wilbert na may accountability dapat ang board na ito at makita natin kung paano sila nagdedesisyon,” Magno said. 

(I applaud Cong. Wilbert's remarks that there should be accountability from this board and that we should see how it makes decisions.) 

Also, during Lee’s recent visit to his fellow Bicolano and fellow Sorsoganon, Senate President Escudero, both lawmakers agreed in pushing for PhilHealth benefit increases.  

Social media users also expressed support to Lee for his consistent efforts to improve the healthcare services in the country. 

“Napakagandang balita po niyan, maraming salamat po sa malasakit (That is very good news, thank you very much for the compassion),” a netizen wrote. 

“Good luck sir… ituloy ang laban basta itama ang lahat (continue the fight and set things right),” another netizen posted. 

According to Lee, these sentiments prove that the fight for a better healthcare system is a fight of all Filipinos.