Senator Bong Go reiterated the urgent need to sustain and deepen reforms in the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to ensure that all Filipinos, especially the poor and marginalized, benefit from improved and accessible healthcare services.
Among the recent developments Go advocated for is the expanded kidney transplant benefit package, which the veteran legislator welcomed with a firm reminder that such gains must translate into real, felt outcomes for indigent patients on the ground.
Under the new scheme, financial coverage for kidney transplants has been increased from P600,000 to P2.1 million. Dialysis support has also been raised to nearly P1 million per patient, now including essential laboratory tests and maintenance medicines—components that often burden families with out-of-pocket expenses.
As Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, the seasoned lawmaker welcomed the expansion but stressed that well-crafted programs must be properly implemented at the grassroots level.
“The expanded coverage is designed to support the long-term health of transplant recipients through continuous access to medications and post-operative care.”
PhilHealth President and CEO Dr. Edwin Mercado said the expanded coverage is backed by the agency’s Corporate Operating Budget and is designed to support the long-term health of transplant recipients through continuous access to medications and post-operative care.
In response, Go reminded health authorities to prioritize indigent patients who are often uninformed of such benefits entitled to them.
“Ang mahalaga, may aktuwal na pasyenteng natutulungan sa mga lugar na malayo sa sentro,” the senator stressed.
Go also urged the Department of Health (DOH), PhilHealth, and local government units (LGUs) to coordinate closely in tracking the progress of the program’s rollout and addressing potential bottlenecks in the field.
“Ipaalam ito sa mga Pilipino, lalo na ‘yung mga mahihirap.”
“Kung may benepisyong ganito kalaki, dapat sabayan natin ng maayos at mabilis na implementasyon. Ipaalam ito sa mga Pilipino, lalo na ‘yung mga mahihirap,” he added.
After numerous appeals from Go, PhilHealth has officially committed to implementing a wide range of reforms aimed at making healthcare more accessible and affordable for Filipinos, especially the poor and marginalized.
Following the long-overdue scrapping of the Single Period of Confinement (SPC) policy, he also called attention to the anti-poor 24-hour confinement rule, which prevented patients from availing of PhilHealth benefits unless confined for at least a day.
In response, PhilHealth has repealed the policy and expanded coverage for emergency outpatient services, addressing a long-standing gap in the system.
Notably, PhilHealth also lifted the 45-day annual limit on hospitalizations for members and their dependents, allowing continued coverage for prolonged illnesses—especially those involving chronic or life-threatening conditions.
The agency has likewise begun increasing case rates across the board to significantly reduce out-of-pocket costs for patients while adjusting benefit packages for specific illnesses such as urinary tract infection, influenza, and acute gastroenteritis. However, Go emphasized the need for continued reforms.
PhilHealth has also committed to enhancing benefits packages for the country’s top mortality diseases, including heart ailments, diabetes, and respiratory conditions. He welcomed this, reiterating that expanded coverage must go hand-in-hand with strengthening facilities and healthcare manpower across the country.
With healthcare costs continuing to rise, Go assured that he will remain vigilant in pushing for initiatives that protect the well-being of Filipino families.
“For my second term, with all sincerity, I will continue to push for pro-poor programs and laws, especially on health,” he said.
“Health is wealth. We must work together to bring quality medical services closer to our people, particularly the poor and indigent patients. Ang kalusugan ay katumbas ng buhay ng bawat Pilipino,” Go stressed in his proclamation speech.
