Philippine Health Insurance Corporation branch in Quezon City. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday ordered the Department of Health to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of PhilHeath benefits.

In a meeting in Malacañang, Marcos told Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa to "make sure that services of PhilHealth remain unhampered," stressing that the agency's zero government subsidy for this year "should not affect the delivery of healthcare services."

Lawmakers at the bicameral conference committee last month stripped government subsidy for the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation in the 2025 national budget.

The move, along with other contentious cuts, was approved by President Ferdinand Marcos before the New Year — leaving the 2025 spending plan largely intact.

He said at the time that it would not lead to cuts on PhiilHealth benefits that service millions of poor and middle-income Filipinos.

Marcos says PhilHealth has enough funds despite zero subsidy

PhilHealth assures continued services despite loss of 2025 government subsidy

The lawmakers said that PhilHealth should first exhaust their multi-billion peso unspent or reserve funds — an argument rejected by critics who claimed could harm the state insurer's fiscal health.

"The President reiterated the administration’s commitment to prioritizing social services in the 2025 national budget, focusing on key sectors such as education, health, economic services, infrastructure, and agriculture," the Palace said in a statement.

SC delays oral arguments on questioned PhilHealth fund transfers

Marcos urged Herbosa to shift the health agency's focus "from cure to prevention," adding that "an ounce of prevention is better than a pound in cure."

The President also emphasized the importance of digitalizing the DOH to boost the delivery of services.

Despite the subsidy cut for PhilHealth, the agency earlier this month announced that it would increase by 50 percent almost all of its benefit packages starting January 2025.

Israel Francis Pargas, senior vice president for Health and Finance Policy Sector of PhilHealth, said that the hike covers 9,000 case rate packages for its members.

However, the expanded PhilHealth benefits packages worried a private hospitals group, saying that the state-led health insurer might not be able to pay its members again. 

PHAPI President Jose Rene De Grano said PhilHealth still owes them P4 billion to P6 billion for some services rendered from 2020 to 2023. The group has submitted claims a couple of times but to no avail.

PhilHealth increases benefits for members in 2025

RELATED VIDEO: