Senators have welcomed the return of P60 billion in excess funds to PhilHealth following a Supreme Court ruling that deemed its transfer to the treasury unconstitutional.
Senators yesterday welcomed the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth)’s receipt of the P60-billion “excess fund” after the Supreme Court ruled its return to the treasury was unconstitutional.
Sen. Pia Cayetano called the move “a victory for health and for the Filipino people,” saying the funds for the state insurer should be used to shoulder the out-of-pocket expenses of indigent patients instead of being impounded in the treasury. “PhilHealth must ensure that these funds are used strictly in accordance with the law – to address the urgent health needs of our people,” Cayetano said.
Sen. JV Ejercito, one of the authors of the Universal Health Care law, said the SC’s order should serve as a reminder that health care funds are used only for their intended purpose. Sen. Loren Legarda noted that the excess funds are small compared to the P220.39 billion in health funds not utilized by the government, including P113.44 billion from sin tax revenues.
