Marcos to DOH: Ensure unhampered PhilHealth services

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Tuesday tasked the Department of Health to guarantee that the delivery of PhilHealth's services would be unhampered.

To recall, the state insurer has zero government subsidy for fiscal year 2025.

“Make sure that services of PhilHealth remain unhampered … it (zero subsidy) should not affect the delivery of healthcare services,” Marcos said during a meeting at the Malacañang Palace.

The President reiterated the administration’s commitment to prioritizing social services in the 2025 national budget, which will focus on education, health, economic services, infrastructure and agriculture.

The state insurer earlier said its war chest is sufficient to bankroll any additions to or expansion of its benefit packages that Filipinos can avail for their health and medical needs despite having zero government subsidy for this year.

PhilHealth senior vice president for fund management Renato Limsiaco Jr. said the organization has an authorized corporate operating budget of P271 billion for this year to cover expenses for members' benefits.

Meanwhile, Marcos also urged DOH to shift the agency's focus from cure to prevention, stressing that “an ounce of prevention is better than a pound in cure.”  He also underscored the importance of digitalizing the DOH to enhance the delivery of its services. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News