Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and a health reforms crusader, led another Senate hearing on Thursday, January 16, to address pressing healthcare issues in the country. In his opening statement, he underscored the paramount importance of ensuring accessible and equitable health services for all Filipinos.
“Ensuring the well-being of our people is always our top priority. As the Chairperson of the Committee on Health, I am one with the whole nation in envisioning the best healthcare service for every Filipino. ‘Yun pong pinaka-importante ngayon, ang health, kalusugan, dahil katumbas po ‘yan ng buhay ng bawat Pilipino,” said Senator Go.
He emphasized that healthcare is a fundamental right, not a privilege reserved for the affluent. “Ang kalusugan ay hindi dapat maging pribilehiyo lamang ng iilan. Dapat nating siguraduhin na ang bawat Pilipino, lalung-lalo na po ‘yung mga mahihirap at walang kakayahang magbayad, ay may access sa serbisyong pangkalusugan. Health is a basic right, not a privilege for only a few,” he added.
Senator Go highlighted the alarming increase in medical costs in the Philippines, referencing the WTW Global Medical Trends Survey that projected an 18.3% rise in 2025. This sharp uptick marks the second-highest increase in the Asia Pacific region and further exacerbates the financial strain on Filipinos, most of whom rely on out-of-pocket healthcare payments.
“Ano ho bang ibig sabihin nito? Katulad ng maraming gastusin sa ating bansa, inaasahan pong tataas na naman ngayong taon ang gastusing medikal, tulad ng pagpapa-ospital, mga gamot, at iba pang serbisyo. Ibig sabihin, lalo pang mabubutas ang bulsa ng Pilipino,” Senator Go explained, expressing concern about the healthcare expenses that heavily burden citizens.
Central to the discussion was the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and its promised reforms in delivering sufficient healthcare services to its members amid its substantial reserve fund of over PhP 500 billion.
Senator Go questioned why many Filipinos remain unaware of their PhilHealth benefits and why enrollment in PhilHealth’s E-Konsulta program remains below 10%.
“Bilang isang Pilipino, tayo po’y miyembro ng PhilHealth. Lahat tayo ay entitled sa benepisyo mula sa PhilHealth. Nasa PhP 500 billion, o higit pa ang pondo ng PhilHealth, o ‘yung sinasabing reserve fund. Kaya ang tanong: Bakit hindi ito nararamdaman ng mga Pilipino, lalung-lalo na po ‘yung mahihirap?” he questioned.
To illustrate the consequences of inadequate healthcare access, Senator Go recounted harrowing incidents. In Rosario, Cavite, a man died after leaving a clinic without being examined. In Cebu, a pregnant woman gave birth and died on the street out of fear of hospital costs. “Ilan lamang po ‘yan sa mga halimbawa ng mga nangyari na ayaw magpa-ospital dahil takot sa babayarin sa ospital,” he lamented.
Senator Go acknowledged PhilHealth’s recent reforms but pressed for more transparent and efficient implementation. He cited developments such as the expansion of benefit packages, elimination of anti-poor policies, and significant increases in case rates for critical diseases.
Among these reforms were substantial increases in benefit packages for the top ten mortality diseases, adjustments in case rates by up to 50% across nearly 9,000 packages, and expanded benefits, including dental care, outpatient drug benefits, mental health support, and optometric services.
The Senator commended the move removing restrictive policies such as the 24-hour confinement rule and the single-period confinement policy. He also praised PhilHealth’s new packages targeting critical health concerns. For heart attack treatment, coverage now includes essential services such as emergency care and specialized treatments, with benefits increasing from PhP 30,300 to PhP 523,000, representing a dramatic 1,629% rise.
For kidney transplants, coverage was raised from PhP 600,000 to PhP 2 million to address the financial challenges faced by chronic kidney disease patients. “At least nabibigyan natin ng pag-asa ‘yung nagda-dialysis at kailangan po ng kidney transplant,” he said, expressing optimism about the expanded support.
While recognizing these positive developments, Senator Go reiterated the need for sustained monitoring of PhilHealth’s programs to ensure that they deliver on their promises.
“Tingnan n’yo rin po ‘yung mga dapat n’yong baguhin na matatagal n’yo nang programa na mas mapalawak n’yo po. Dapat masiguro na may malinaw na sistema para malaman ng bawat miyembro kung ano na ho ang mga benepisyo nilang makukuha,” he urged.
The hearing reinforced the Senate Committee on Health’s resolve to hold PhilHealth accountable and to ensure that every Filipino can access the healthcare services they deserve. Senator Go’s advocacy for health reforms remains unwavering as he champions equitable and transparent healthcare for all.
“These commitments being implemented by PhilHealth are part of our efforts to ensure that Filipinos get the health benefits they deserve. While we welcome these actions, we will not stop in our crusade to ensure that they will deliver on their promises to protect the lives of Filipinos,” he said.
The hearing also tackled updates on the payment of Health Emergency Allowances (HEA) to healthcare workers. Senator Go acknowledged the release of PhP 27 billion for these allowances but stressed the need to ensure timely distribution and a system to process appeals.
“Ngayon, tatanungin nalang natin kung nabayaran na ba lahat. Kasi marami pa ring sumisigaw ng ‘HEA, HEA,’ kahit saan ako magpunta,” he noted, emphasizing the urgency of compensating healthcare workers for their contributions.
The Senator also highlighted the importance of upgrading healthcare facilities to bring services closer to underserved communities. He reiterated his commitment to advancing health reforms to protect the lives and well-being of all Filipinos.
