Vice President Jejomar C. Binay on Monday vowed to improve government health services, as he noted that health services in the country have deteriorated and have become more costly based on a recent study.
“Nakalulungkot na ang mga karaniwang manggagawa na nakakaltasan ng buwis tuwing sweldo ay hindi nabibigyan ng sapat na tulong katulad ng mga serbisyong pangkulusugan,” Joey Salgado, Office of the Vice President chief for media affairs, said.
Salgado cited a report from IBON Foundation which said health services have not improved at all and even became more costly to the public.
The study showed that PhilHealth members still shell out a large amount of money for confinement, medicine and other medical needs, which defeats the purpose of PhilHealth membership.
Salgado said a Binay administration will not only improve the PhilHealth system but will also develop and implement a comprehensive health program—with emphasis on preventive health care—that is accessible to as many Filipinos, even in far-flung areas.
“Maglalaan ang administrasyong Binay ng mas malaking alokasyon para sa sektor ng kalusugan upang maipatupad ang universal health coverage at mapunan ang pangangailangan sa mga health center at hospital, sa gamot at mga medical equipment,” he said.
IBON, citing Philippine National Health Accounts (PNHA) data for 2013, said patients still had to shell out almost 70 per cent for their health spending. IBON said this is contrary to the administration’s claim that through PhilHealth, families belonging to the poorest or 20 per cent of the population “will not have to shell out a single centavo” for public hospital services due to PhilHealth in 2012. The research group added that this number has risen to 40 per cent in 2014.
The IBON study, contained in the book “Critical Condition: Privatized health in the Philippines,” was conducted among poor families in Metro Manila, Sorsogon, Nueva Ecija, Mindoro Oriental, Eastern Samar, Capiz, Iloilo and Negros Occidental.
Those interviewed included sponsored patients whose contributions are paid for by other individuals, the local government or government agencies, paying patients who are usually government or private sector employees and individually enrolled members, and lifetime patients who are senior citizens who have paid at least 120 monthly premium contributions.
The study showed most PhilHealth beneficiaries interviewed still bought medical paraphernalia or equipment prescribed by doctors and nurses and which were not provided by the hospital.
Some of these medical paraphernalia are breathing tubes, intravenous (IV) therapy paraphernalia such as needles, syringes, dextrose, surgical paraphernalia, birthing paraphernalia, urine bags, catheter, blood-transfusion related paraphernalia, oxygen masks, ampoule and vials, gloves, and cleaning implements.
The beneficiaries also bought medicine outside the hospital as these were not available in the hospital’s pharmacy. These included antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and drugs for pneumonia, tuberculosis, cough, allergies, dialysis, pain and fever.
In Nueva Ecija, IBON said sponsored patients complained they had to shell out a large amount for confinement. Some borrowed money to buy prescribed medicine, while other patients asked for donations from friends and relatives, politicians, and government agencies.
IBON added some patients were so desperate they borrowed from lenders who charge an interest as high as 10 to 40 per cent a month.
“Even if the hospital guarantees reimbursement in part or in full for unavailable paraphernalia and drugs, patients regardless of category said that having to shell out money for their confinement is rather burdensome,” IBON said.
IBON added, “The interviews revealed an uneven implementation of the program. In Eastern Samar, most patients were given 100% coverage, while in Roxas and Iloilo no one was given 100% coverage. Overall, very few Sponsored patients said that PhilHealth covered 100% of their bills and that they still had to pay the balance of the bill. Meanwhile, Paying patients estimated that PhilHealth covered/ will cover from 26%-75% of their bills, while no Lifetime member had 100% of their bill covered.”
While paying patients “had a positive attitude towards PhilHealth,” they complained of poor ventilation, lack of cleanliness, noise in the wards, smelly toilets, and lack of beds in health facilities, IBON said.
“The health program we offer to our people supports our broad goal to attain inclusive and sustainable growth through intensive jobs-creation activities and expanded social services,” Salgado said.
He said it is sad that IBON also noted that “the objective of socialized subsidy is not being achieved with Lifetime members receiving the highest benefit payment per beneficiary on average (Php1,259.52), and Sponsored Program members composed of poorer beneficiaries receiving the lowest benefit payment (Php572.71) in 2013.”
It is sadder to note, Salgado said, that the study showed “PhilHealth has also not guaranteed reduced or zero out-of-pocket expenditures.”
“This is why we need a comprehensive health program for the people which includes nationwide vaccination, sanitation and proper nutrition programs. In line with this, health care services should reach our brothers and sisters in far-flung areas as fast as it reaches Filipinos in urban centers. I believe it can be done. And it must be done,” he said.
Salgado added, “There should be easy access to universal health care for all. Sadly, our healthcare system is plagued by considerable inequities in access to healthcare between classes. The poor, marginalized and disadvantaged members of our society are unable to access quality healthcare. Thus, it is imperative that reforms be implemented to address these inequities,” he said.
“As borne by the Makati model, a healthy individual maximizes human potential and productivity. There should be free hospitalization for the poorest of the poor and affordable healthcare for others based on their ability to pay,” he said.