Reelectionist Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has called out the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) after it reportedly denied a newborn benefits due to an alleged misinterpretation of existing policies. 

Go made the call following a recent social media post highlighting the case of an infant born on February 22 and discharged from the hospital on February 26. Due to unforeseen complications, the child required readmission on the same day. 

However, the hospital informed the parents that a 24-hour interval was necessary before the newborn could again avail of PhilHealth benefits.

“Nakakagalit naman ang ganitong patakaran! Wala namang pinipiling oras ang sakit lalo na sa bagong silang na sanggol. Buhay ang nakataya rito (This policy is infuriating! Illness does not choose time, especially in a newborn baby. Lives are at stake here)!” Go said in a statement on Wednesday, March 5.

“Lahat naman ng Pilipino ay miyembro ng PhilHealth at dapat makakuha ng benepisyo ayon sa (All Filipinos are considered PhilHealth members and are entitled to benefits under the) Universal Health Care Law,” Go stressed. 

The senatorial candidate said it is imperative for PhilHealth to launch an ample and accurate information dissemination to both healthcare providers and the public.

Go noted that misinterpretations of policies could lead to unjust denial of benefits, especially in critical situations involving vulnerable patients like newborns.

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography pointed out that during Senate hearings, lawmakers have already pressured PhilHealth to review and revise such policies, yet cases like this persist.

“Bilang Chairperson ng Senate Health Committee, labintatlong beses na tayong nag-hearing ukol sa kalagayan ng ating healthcare system. Kasama na d’yan ang pagtalakay ng mga outdated at anti-poor policies ng PhilHealth tulad ng 24-hour Confinement Rule at Single Period of Confinement Policy na sa ating pangungulit ay naitigil at narepaso na. Ngunit ano na naman ito (As chairperson of the Senate health committee, we have had 13 hearings on the status of our healthcare system. That included discussions on outdated and anti-poor policies of Philhealth like this 24-hour confinement rule and signle period of confinement policy that we understood had already been stopped and revised. But why is this happening again)?” he said.

At the same time, Go reiterated he is one of the lawmakers who opposed the agency’s transfer of billions of excess funds to the National Treasury, warning that this could negatively impact health care services.

But the lawmaker insisted such billions worth of funds should go directly to the improvement of services and better health benefits to all PhilHealth members. 

“Hindi ko lubos maisip paano kayang sikmurain ng PhilHealth o ng ospital na sabihan ang isang magulang na kailangan mong mag-antay ng ilan pang oras bago makakuhang muli ng benepisyong pangkalusugan mula sa gobyerno habang maghihingalo na ang isang sanggol at kayo naman ay lumalangoy sa bilyun-bilyong excess funds na nakatengga lamang (I can't imagine how PhilHealth or the hospital can stomach telling a parent that you have to wait a few more hours before getting health benefits from the government again while a baby is about to die and you are swimming in billions of excess funds that are just lying around)!” Go lamented. 

Go said he will not stop at calling out PhilHealth over its outdated and unjust policies. 

“Hindi tayo titigil sa ating mga pagdinig hanggang maisaayos ng PhilHealth ang ganitong mga patakaran na imbes na makatulong ay nagiging dagdag pasakit sa mga may sakit (We will not stop our hearings until PhilHealth adjusts these policies that instead of helping are causing more pain to the sick),” he stressed.