60+ medical groups urge PBBM to halt PhilHealth fund transfer to Treasury

Over 60 medical societies and healthcare organizations are urging President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to reverse the Department of Finance's directive to transfer nearly P90 billion in surplus funds from PhilHealth to the National Treasury.

These groups, led by the Healthcare Professionals Alliance Against Covid-19 (HPAAC) and the Philippine College of Physicians, argue the funds should be used to enhance PhilHealth's benefit packages and coverage for its members, especially the poor.

Party-list Rep. France L. Castro also contends that the transfer violates the Universal Healthcare Act, which mandates PhilHealth to use excess funds for improving its services.

The healthcare groups describe the fund transfer as an 'immoral transfer of funds' and a 'direct assault on the health rights of Filipinos'.

They explained that PhilHealth's unspent funds accumulated due to 'inefficiencies' and underspending, rather than a deliberate surplus, as the corporation has not adequately expanded its benefit packages or reduced out-of-pocket expenses.

The organizations hope President Marcos Jr. will address this issue at his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 22.

If the President does not act, the groups plan to file a petition before the Supreme Court questioning the legality of the Department of Finance's directive.