by: Jerome Paunan
MANILA, (PIA) — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. emphasized the need for the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to maintain its service delivery despite the lack of government funding.
“Make sure that services of PhilHealth remain unhampered … it (zero budget) should not affect the delivery of healthcare services,” he said, highlighting the agency’s vital role in providing healthcare to the Filipino population.
Marcos led a meeting with Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro Herbosa and his economic team to discuss the future of PhilHealth following its zero budget allocation in the 2025 National Budget.
Herbosa, who also chairs PhilHealth, reassured the public that the agency’s performance would continue to be robust and that it would seek to expand its benefits.
Marcos reiterated his administration’s commitment to prioritizing social services in the upcoming national budget, with a focus on education, health, economic development, infrastructure, and agriculture.
He also stressed the importance of shifting emphasis towards preventive healthcare measures rather than solely curative approaches.
“An ounce of prevention is better than a pound in cure,” Marcos said.
Additionally, the President called on the DOH to advance its digitalization initiatives to enhance operational efficiency and improve public service delivery.
As the nation navigates these financial challenges, the focus on proactive healthcare and modernization aims to ensure that essential services remain accessible to all Filipinos. (JCO/PIA-NCR)
(Photo courtesy: PCO)
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