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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PhilHealth's zero budget in 2025 challenged before SC

PhilHealth's zero budget in 2025 challenged before SC

Published Feb 25, 2025 08:26 am

The Supreme Court (SC) was asked to declare unconstitutional the provision in the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) that declared a zero budget for the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

In a petition, the SC was told that the zero budget for PhilHealth for 2025 violated Article II, Section 15, and Article XII, Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution and the provisions of Republic Act No. 11223, the Universal Health Care Act.

“The 2025 GAA blatantly fails to allocate even a single centavo to this vital institution (PhilHealth), effectively crippling its ability to serve its members,” the petition filed by health reform advocate and former special adviser on non-communicable diseases under the Department of Health (DOH) Dr. Tony Leachon stated.

Leachon asked the SC to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) or writ of preliminary injunction against the implementation of the 2025 national budget as far as PhilHealth is concerned.

He told the SC: “This case is not merely about numbers in a budget. It is about mothers who will lose their children because they cannot afford hospital care. It is about fathers forced to choose between feeding their families and buying life-saving medicine. It is about the elderly, the vulnerable, and the voiceless being abandoned by the very government sworn to protect them.” 

Named respondents in the petition were House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Senate President Francis Escudero and Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin.

Leachon pointed out that the omission of PhilHealth’s budget in the 2025 GAA deprives millions of Filipinos’ constitutionally guaranteed right to health. 

“By deliberately stripping PhilHealth of its budget on the assumption that its reserves are sufficient to augment its operations, the respondents undermined the accessibility and sustainability of essential healthcare services,” he said.

He asked the SC to issue a writ of mandamus directing the appropriate government agencies to immediately allocate and release the necessary funds to PhilHealth in accordance with the mandate of the UHC and the 1987 Constitution, and to prevent the Department of Budget and Management and other relevant agencies from implementing budgetary measures that undermine the constitutional right to health of all Filipinos.

 

 

 

 

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