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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Ejercito, Cayetano raise concerns on utilizing reserved healthcare funds for other gov't programs

Ejercito, Cayetano raise concerns on utilizing reserved healthcare funds for other gov't programs

Published Jul 17, 2024 05:37 am

Two senators on Wednesday, July 17 expressed concerns on the transfer and utilization of the reserve funds from Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to the unprogrammed fund of the national government supposedly to help fund other state services.

“Although we understand that other government programs need funding, we believe that the fulfillment of the goals and objectives of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law should be accorded priority,” Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito said in a statement.

“The health fund should be used for health. Let's prioritize increasing the quality of benefits and reducing the contribution paid by our citizens,” added Ejercito, who authored the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act in the Senate.

Sen. Pia Cayetano, chairperson of the Senate finance subcommittee on the Department of Health (DOH) and the education sector, vowed to look into the matter.

“Every year, we study the budget of the PhilHealth. And very recently, the statement of the Department of Finance (DOF) that they will retrieve the unused funds of PhilHealth has raised concerns. In fact, there are now portions that have been returned to the Treasury to be used for other items,” Cayetano lamented.

“So, I will be studying this matter very carefully because that is already in the law (UHC), it says there that if there are excess revenues from PhilHealth, that should be used to augment the programs of PhilHealth and possibly use to lower the contributions of the members,” she pointed out.

Cayetano said she will take into account the DOF’s belief that the funds are not actual revenues of PhilHealth nor is it revenues from the contribution of members, but government subsidy.

“I’m now studying the figures presented by the DOF and from what I know based on the figures, for all those years I was the chairperson, how much is the contribution of the government, and what is from the members? We need to just be transparent and responsible to the public. We follow the law that this is only for the use of PhilHealth, to fund additional programs and services,” she said.

Cayetano pointed out that there are unprogrammed funds every year under the General Appropriations Act (GAA).

“So, can they get the funds allocated for PhilHealth? Because it was not used, PhilHealth being a GOCC (government owned and controlled corporation), is it covered? But the funds mingled with that of the contributions of the members,” she pointed out.

“I don't have the answer but like the health advocates, I'm very concerned. I don’t want the funds for healthcare be slashed or reduced,” Cayetano lamented.

Related Tags

Universal Health Care Act jv ejercito Department of Finance (DOF) PhilHealth pia cayetano
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