Palace to restore PhilHealth subsidy, if told by SC

Malacañang yesterday expressed readiness to comply with whatever ruling the Supreme Court (SC) would issue on the zero subsidy this year for the Philippine Health Insurance Corp., including the possible restoration of the funding originally allocated to PhilHealth.

- By ALEXIS ROMERO

The National Expenditure Program prepared by the executive allocated a P74-billion subsidy for PhilHealth, but the bicameral conference committee removed the item, citing a P600-billion reserve fund that has not been used.

President Marcos later backed the scrapping of the subsidy, saying the state-run health insurer has enough funds for operations even without subsidies.

Cardiologist Tony Leachon has questioned the removal of the PhilHealth subsidy before the SC, saying it went against laws providing universal health care. He said the move creates the impression that the government "has lost its commitment to provide equitable access to quality health care."

Asked to react to Leachon's petition, Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said lawmakers have their reasons for removing the PhilHealth subsidy.