Senator Questions PhilHealth’s Fund Management Amid Delayed Benefit Rollouts
Senator Bong Go criticized PhilHealth’s handling of funds, citing its ₱60-billion treasury transfer in 2024 and rejection of a ₱70-billion subsidy in 2025 as setbacks to Universal Health Care implementation. He blamed delayed benefit rollouts for unused funds and...
Making universal healthcare work in Philippines
In 2024, the Philippine government swept P60B in idle PhilHealth funds to the Treasury, triggering controversy and a Supreme Court halt on further transfers. The President pledged to restore the funds in 2026, but experts warn cash alone won’t fix service delivery or...
Philhealth explores data-driven overhaul of hospital payments for universal healthcare
Philippine health officials, with support from Thailand’s NHSO and the World Bank, are studying global budgets, DRG systems, and electronic claims to cut out-of-pocket costs and advance universal health care. Lessons from Thai hospitals aim to guide PhilHealth’s DRG...
Philippine healthcare: Families drowning in out-of-pocket expenses
Out-of-pocket health spending in the Philippines hit ₱615B in 2024, 42.7% of total healthcare costs, exposing families to debt as government schemes lag behind rising expenses. Experts urge reforms and new financing tools like sin taxes to ease the unsustainable...
Evolving healthcare in Southern and Southeast Asia
Rapid ageing and rising non-communicable diseases are straining South and Southeast Asia’s underfunded healthcare systems. Countries are boosting funding, adopting digital health, and improving preventive care, but rural access gaps and high costs persist despite...
ATOM Coalition launches health financing case studies to improve cancer care in LLMICs
The ATOM Coalition's new case studies examine cancer care financing in Georgia, Kenya, the Philippines, and Zambia, offering policy insights to strengthen access in low- and middle-income countries. The Access to Oncology Medicines (ATOM) Coalition, led by the Union...
Financing Sustainable Development: How ADB’s Theme Bonds are Transforming the Region
Since 2010, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has raised over $18 billion through specialized theme bonds to address critical challenges in water, education, and healthcare across the Asia-Pacific region, significantly improving access to clean water, educational...
Philippines strengthens push for universal health care through UHC Act
The Philippines advances its Universal Health Care goals with automatic insurance for all citizens under PhilHealth, while tackling infrastructure and digital health challenges. The Philippine government is ramping up efforts to implement the Universal Health Care...
Changes to Universal Health Care Law urged in Philippines
Senator Bong Go urged the swift approval of Senate Bill 2620 to amend the Universal Health Care Act. The bill includes provisions that reduce premium contributions for PhilHealth members, notably benefiting Filipino migrant workers by having the government cover half...
PhilHealth urges hospitals to support ‘no balance billing’ policy
The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) is urging private hospitals to support its No Balance Billing (NBB) policy, which provides equitable healthcare access for patients without out-of-pocket expenses. Hospital leaders emphasize their commitment to...
Use of PhilHealth’s excess funds legal, economically sound
Finance Secretary Ralph Recto defended the transfer of PHP 89.9 billion in excess funds from PhilHealth to the national treasury, asserting that it is legal, moral, and necessary to address the growing needs of the nation, while ensuring that no member contributions...
PhilHealth benefits now cover outpatient emergency services
The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) has introduced the Outpatient Emergency Care Benefit (OECB) package, effective January 1, following PhilHealth Circular No. 2024-0033. This initiative allows coverage for emergency procedures and services for patients...
PhilHealth Zero Subsidy: Reflection of Government Neglect
The decision to completely cut the government subsidy for PhilHealth has sparked criticism, as the agency faces scrutiny over its significant reserve funds while many Filipinos struggle with rising healthcare costs. With the subsidy elimination, PhilHealth will rely...
Philippines DOF and DOH strengthen collaboration to expand health projects
The Philippines' DOF and DOH collaborate on health projects, securing funding for facilities, immunization, and health promotion to boost universal health coverage. The Department of Finance (DOF) and Department of Health (DOH) are working together to enhance health...
PhilHealth to further increase overall health benefit package by 30 percent
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) expects to implement another round of 30-percent increase in all its benefit packages to reduce out-of-pocket expenses of PhilHealth beneficiaries.According to Filane Mikee Cervantes reported in the Philippine...