MANILA (September 22) – On Saturday, the Department of Health (DOH) hailed President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s decision to return PHP60 billion in surplus funds to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation.
DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa described the action in a press statement as an important step toward strengthening the country’s Universal Health Care (UHC) program.
The restored funds will support initiatives to increase health benefits and services across the country, ease patient financial burdens, and guarantee that every Filipino has access to high-quality healthcare, according to Herbosa, who also serves as chair of the PhilHealth Board of Directors.
The PHP60 billion funds, which PhilHealth originally transferred to the national treasury under the 2024 General Appropriations Act, will be used for a variety of health-related programs.
Health Emergency Allowances (PHP27.45 billion), Medical Assistance to Indigents and Financially Incapacitated Patients (PHP10 billion), medical equipment procurement (PHP4.1 billion), improvement of health facilities, including three DOH-run hospitals (PHP5.06 billion), and counterpart financing for foreign-assisted projects addressing social determinants of health (PHP13 billion) are some of these.
The DOH claims that the return of the fund to PhilHealth advances the objective of increasing the government’s contribution of current health spending from roughly 40% to 70%, which is anticipated to result in a significant reduction in patients’ out-of-pocket costs.
While DOH hospitals are already implementing Zero Balance Billing, Herbosa noted that the state health insurance will eventually pay the bulk, if not all, of the hospital bills. At the moment, the department covers more costs than PhilHealth.
“We applaud President Marcos Jr. for acknowledging the diligent efforts of our healthcare personnel. “They are committed to making essential health services more accessible to all Filipino families,” he stated.
