MANILA – A group of health advocates on Monday decried Congress’ ignorance of the law for “drastically cutting” the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s (PhilHealth) budget for 2025.
Congress and the Department of Budget and Management appropriated PHP53.26 billion worth of premiums, covering only 14 million out of the 25.28 million indirect contributors to PhilHealth.
The state insurer requested for PHP150.92 billion which shall cover itd indirect contributors.
“Congress’ refusal to provide sufficient premiums for PhilHealth contributors is a clear violation of the constitutional right to health,” the Sin Tax Coalition said in a statement.
“The letter of the law is clear. Our sin tax laws provide for the earmarking of revenues to PhilHealth — 80 percent of the half of the total collection from tobacco and sugar-sweetened beverages, respectively, shall be allocated to PhilHealth.”
It noted that PhilHealth must receive at least PHP69.81 billion budget allocation for 2025 based on the reports of sin tax collection.
The Universal Healthcare (UHC) Act designates PhilHealth as the sole purchaser of individual-based healthcare services.
“By channeling resources from the premium of indirect contributors to Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP), more known as dole out guarantee letters, Congress is contravening the law and reinforcing ayuda (aid) politics,” the Sin Tax Coalition said.
“The health of the Filipino people should never be politicized. Filipinos should not be made to beg for their right to health through guarantee letters.”
Citing that PhilHealth is mandated by the UHC Act to cover the premiums of indirect contributors, the group said the state insurer’s budget utilization should not be determinative of its budget allocation.
“Holding PhilHealth accountable for its inefficiency should not come at the expense of blatantly transgressing the law and slashing the premiums of indirect contributors,” it said.
“With the ongoing bicameral conference committee for the 2025 budget, we implore the Congress to correct its errors and uphold the mandate provided by the UHC Act,” it added.
It also requested that budget proceedings be made open and transparent to all Filipinos. (PNA)