Senator JV Ejercito called for a leadership change in the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) due to its failure to implement the Universal Health Care (UHC) law, which resulted in the transfer of P89.9 billion in unused funds back to the National Treasury.
Speaking at the Kapihan sa Senado forum, Ejercito expressed frustration over the impounding of these funds, which could have been used to assist indigent patients and settle hospital dues.
He emphasized that while there have been some improvements in reducing out-of-pocket expenses, PhilHealth must target zero-balance billing for vulnerable groups.
Ejercito warned that he would seek an investigation into the fund transfer, stating that PhilHealth is not a private entity and should utilize its funds for those in need.
Meanwhile, former Bayan Muna representative Neri Colmenares urged the Supreme Court to issue a temporary restraining order against the fund transfer, arguing that the allocation of unprogrammed funds in the national budget is unconstitutional and detrimental to the UHC Act’s implementation.
Source: PhilNews24 | October 10, 2024
