PCCI to Philhealth: Boost members’ benefits, suspend contribution increase

PhilHealth office. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

The country’s largest business group called on the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to increase the health-care benefits and expand illness coverage amid what it called “unused and idle” funds of the state insurer.

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) recently said the financial assistance provided by PhilHealth to its members continued to be severely deficient despite its net income of P173.46 billion as of December 2023 and its accumulated funds reaching P700 billion.

“Despite posting surplus funds, the agency’s health insurance coverage is still at the bare minimum; members continue to disproportionately shoulder the burden of their hospital and health-care expenses,” PCCI president Enunina Mangio said in a statement during the weekend.

“These funds are contributions from the hard-earned money of its members. These should be plowed back to members in the form of higher rates of benefits including hospitalization, and the expansion of covered illnesses,” she added.

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The PCCI highlighted the mandate of PhilHealth as the national health insurance provider, citing its role in providing social health insurance coverage as well as ensuring affordable and accessible health-care services to all Filipinos.

It also noted the higher premium rates collected by PhilHealth this year supposedly to ensure enough resource for the expanded coverage and to achieve better benefits committed under the law.

Further, the PCCI is urging the national government to suspend the implementation of the remaining 1 percent increase in members’ contribution, highlighting that the operating cash flow of PhilHealth was above P70 billion per year.

“PhilHealth has shown its solvency. It does not need another rate hike to sustain its operations and services to its members, it needs efficient management of its funds,” Mangio said.

Likewise, the business group is calling for greater transparency in the use of PhilHealth funds through regular performance audits and a reorganization of its leadership.

“We need an effective health-care system to ensure that health-care services are accessible, equitable, efficient, affordable and of high quality for all. In light of emerging health concerns, good governance should be strengthened to ensure that PhilHealth capably and appropriately achieves its mandate and responds to current and future needs,” said Mangio. INQ