Health advocate challenges PhilHealth’s zero-subsidy in 2025 budget

Health advocate Dr. Tony Leachon has petitioned the Supreme Court on Tuesday to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the implementation of the 2025 national budget, citing the absence of funding for the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

In a 45-page petition, Leachon argued that the lack of budget allocation under Republic Act 12116 (General Appropriations Act of 2025) violates Article II, Section 15, and Article XIII, Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution, as well as the Universal Health Care Act.

“The 2025 GAA blatantly fails to allocate even a single centavo to this vital institution, effectively crippling its ability to serve its members,” the petition stated.

Leachon emphasized that under the Universal Health Care Act, PhilHealth’s funding should come from members' contributions, the Department of Health’s annual appropriations in the GAA, and a national government subsidy. 

He argued that the law does not intend for direct contributors to be PhilHealth’s primary funding source.

In addition to the TRO, Leachon urged the Supreme Court to:

• Declare the omission of PhilHealth’s funding as null and void.
• Issue a writ of mandamus directing government agencies to allocate and release necessary funds.
• Issue a writ of prohibition preventing agencies from implementing budget measures that deny PhilHealth funding.

Named as respondents in the petition are House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Senate President Chiz Escudero, and Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.

Speaking after filing the petition, Leachon criticized the administration’s priorities.

“Basic right po ‘yan. Dapat ang pinakamataas na ibibigay mo ay kalusugan at saka edukasyon. Doon sa lumalabas na budget, binawasan nila ang health, zero. Sa education binawasan nila ng P15 billion, sa [Commission on Higher Educatio] binawasan nila ng P30 billion,” he said.

(This is a basic right. The largest budget allocation should go to health and education. Instead, health funding was cut to zero. They also reduced the education budget by P15 billion and CHED’s by P30 billion.)

Leachon said he filed the case for every Filipino.

“Ang nire-represent ko ay bawat Pilipino na naghahangad pa rin ng kalusugan para sa lahat ng walang tayong babayaran. So ang laban ko, laban ninyong lahat,” he said.

(I represent every Filipino who deserves access to free healthcare. This fight is for all of us.)

GMA News Online has sought comment from the Palace, Senate, and House of Representatives, and will post their responses once they become available. — DVM, GMA Integrated News