AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee (Rep. Lee's office)

AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee has renewed his call for the Department of Health (DOH) to fast-track the provision of medical equipment to public hospitals in order to maximize the increased Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) benefit packages.

“Walang kwenta ang mga dagdag benepisyo kung walang mga gamit at ospital (Expanded benefits are useless if hospitals lack equipment)," Lee said. 

Lee was referring to equipment for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan, Computed Tomography (CT) scan, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and other diagnostic tests and facilities.

During the House Committee on Health hearing on the increase in PhilHealth benefit packages on Wednesday, Jan. 15, Lee underscored that the improved services should be complemented by equipping hospitals and other medical facilities with medical equipment needed by Filipino patients.  

It can be recalled that the Bicol lawmaker sealed commitments from the DOH and PhilHealth last Sept. 25, 2024. These include submitting an implementation plan with definite timeline of acquiring medical equipment for public hospitals under the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP).  

Moreover, Lee--in his bid to complement the new PhilHealth benefits--raised his plan to file a bill granting amnesty for cases involving hospitals and doctors as well as payment of denied claims due to late filing.

“Kailangan po natin na mas maraming ospital na nakakapagbigay ng serbisyo sa ating mga kababayan. Kung masususpinde sila at haharap sa mga kaso na kung tutuusin ay maliit lang naman, sa huli, apektado ang kanilang serbisyo,” he added.

(We need more hospitals that are capable of serving the citizenry. If they get suspended and prosecuted for cases that are, in truth, insignificant, then it's their delivery of service that would be affected.)

The measure will also seek penalty reductions for employers.

During the hearing, the Sorsogon native secured a commitment from PhilHealth to support the said measure. 

“From the side of PhilHealth, 100 percent support po. It will solve a lot of problems. We are with you 100 percent,” PhilHealth President and CEO Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. said.

While Lee acknowledged the success of PhilHealth for the new benefits--a result of his persistent push since he exposed the billions of available funds to the state health insurer in September 2023--he stressed that the lack of hospitals and facilities would hamper the delivery of quality and accessible healthcare benefits to Filipinos.