Senator Bong Go urged PhilHealth to further strengthen primary and preventive healthcare while ensuring adequate benefits for Filipinos already undergoing dialysis and other life-sustaining treatments, following the state health insurer’s disclosure that around a quarter of its payouts now goes to dialysis.
PhilHealth Acting President and CEO Dr. Beverly Lorraine Ho said around 25% of the agency’s payouts, or roughly ₱100 billion out of about ₱400 billion in total disbursements, accounts for dialysis. Ho stressed that earlier management of hypertension and diabetes could help prevent kidney disease from progressing to the point that patients require regular dialysis.
For Go, the figures underscore the need to invest more aggressively in keeping Filipinos healthy before illnesses become severe and more difficult to treat.
“Alagaan natin ang kalusugan ng ating mga kababayan habang maaga. Huwag nating hintayin na lumala ang sakit bago sila maalagaan. Kung maagapan natin ang hypertension, diabetes at iba pang sakit, mas maiiwasan natin ang mas mabigat na kondisyon at gastusin sa hinaharap,” the veteran legislator said.
At the same time, the seasoned lawmaker stressed that efforts to prevent chronic kidney disease should not come at the expense of patients who already depend on dialysis.
“Huwag tipirin ang Pilipino pagdating sa kalusugan.”
“Sa mga nangangailangan na ng dialysis, tuloy-tuloy dapat ang suporta. Buhay po ang pinag-uusapan natin dito. Huwag tipirin ang Pilipino pagdating sa kalusugan,” the senator said.
He reiterated that PhilHealth funds should be maximized for the direct benefit of its members, particularly ordinary Filipinos who often struggle with healthcare expenses.
“Pera ng taumbayan ang pondo ng PhilHealth. Galing ’yan sa kontribusyon ng mga miyembro at sa pondo ng gobyerno. Kaya dapat bumalik sa taumbayan sa pamamagitan ng mas maayos, mas malawak at mas madaling ma-access na serbisyong pangkalusugan,” Go stressed.
“Bawat piso, bawat sentimo ng pondo ng PhilHealth dapat mapakinabangan ng mga Pilipino. Pera nila ’yan. Huwag nating hayaang matulog ang pondo habang may kababayan tayong hindi makapagpagamot,” he added.
Go had also strongly opposed the transfer of PhilHealth funds to the National Treasury and later welcomed the return of ₱60 billion following a Supreme Court ruling, reiterating that money intended for healthcare must remain for the health needs of Filipinos. The High Court unanimously ordered the return of the transferred amount and permanently prohibited the transfer of the remaining ₱29.9 billion.
“Paulit-ulit nating sinasabi noon pa na ang PhilHealth ay para sa health ng Pilipino!” Go previously said, as he called for the restored resources to translate into better benefits, faster claims processing and wider healthcare coverage.
Ho described PhilHealth’s investment in primary care as a strategic approach to the long-term sustainability of the national health insurance fund, pointing out that dialysis can also affect patients’ ability to work because treatment requires regular sessions.
PhilHealth has been expanding its Yaman ng Kalusugan Program or YAKAP, which is designed to give members access to primary care and enable earlier detection and treatment of illnesses. PhilHealth says YAKAP includes medical consultations, laboratory and diagnostic services, medicines, and cancer screening benefits.
Go welcomed efforts to shift greater attention toward primary care, saying healthcare policy should make it easier for Filipinos to consult doctors, undergo necessary tests and obtain medicines before their conditions worsen.
“Mas maganda kung maagapan.”
“Mas maganda kung maagapan. Mas maganda kung makapagpa-checkup agad ang ating mga kababayan, may laboratory tests, may gamot at may doktor na tumitingin sa kanila bago pa maging malubha ang kanilang karamdaman,” he said.
Consistent with this approach, Go has pushed for Super Health Centers that focus on primary care, consultations and early disease detection, alongside Regional Specialty Centers that bring specialized medical services closer to patients outside Metro Manila.
He also stressed that prevention and treatment should be pursued together, particularly for low-income families who can least afford prolonged illness.
“Ang layunin natin, alagaan ang Pilipino mula sa umpisa. Kung kaya nating pigilan ang sakit, pigilan natin. Kung may sakit na at kailangan ng gamutan, tulungan natin. Kung kailangan ng dialysis, siguraduhin nating may sapat na benepisyo,” Go said.
“Huwag nating tingnan ang healthcare bilang simpleng gastos. Kalusugan at buhay ng Pilipino ang nakataya rito,” he added.
Go urged PhilHealth to continue improving its benefit packages, expand access to primary care and make sure members are fully informed about the services available to them.
“Maraming Pilipino ang nagtitiis ng sakit dahil iniisip nila wala silang pambayad. Kaya trabaho ng gobyerno na ilapit ang serbisyo, ipaalam sa kanila ang mga benepisyo at siguraduhing talagang nagagamit nila ang pondong nakalaan para sa kanilang kalusugan,” he said.
“Pera ng taumbayan, ibalik sa taumbayan. Alagaan natin ang kalusugan ng bawat Pilipino at huwag natin silang tipirin,” Go concluded.
