“Restoring responsibility and accountability is essential to the economic and fiscal health of the nation” – Carl Levin
The organized labor group pushed for the immediate removal of Philhealth board members for compromising public health, after Congress allocated zero subsidy for 2025 to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. due to the inefficiency of fund allocation.
NAGKAISA, a labor coalition group called on Congress to protect Filipino workers by prodding President Marcos to fire the current leadership of Philhealth and its board.
According to the labor group, “Instead of punishing workers who are already burdened by systemic inefficiencies, Congress must take accountability for Philhealth’s leadership. We cannot allow the people’s health to be compromised further,” the coalition said.
The group also urged the President and his administration that they must act and act now before it’s too late. Fire the leadership of Philhealth because the health and lives of Filipinos cannot wait.
The labor group demanded real reforms from Philhealth to ensure that all Filipinos have access to quality and affordable health care without fear of debt or hospital detention. The zero government subsidy for Philhealth could severely impact workers, most of whom are struggling to afford healthcare, Sonny Matula, coalition chair said. Philhealth’s benefits are already insufficient despite receiving subsidies.
Once the subsidy is removed in 2025, our health situation will further deteriorate and many Filipinos, especially workers who are struggling to afford healthcare, will find themselves in hospital detention for their inability to pay their hospital bills, Matula added.
Matula also criticized the legislators as they failed to prioritize basic human rights in their decision to remove government subsidies from Philhealth.
Members of NAGKAISA are set to mount a rally to express their dismay over the removal of subsidy for Philhealth. They will urge for the restoration of the subsidy and the reformation of Philhealth’s system by calling for the resignation of its board members.
