9999xl @ rajanaga Zero-subsidy for Philhealth violates laws—groups

REMOVING the budget allocation for the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.(PhilHealth) violates the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act and the Sin Tax Reform Laws as well as prevent the poor from accessing medical assistance.

This was according to a letter shared by the Action for Economic Reform (AER) and a statement issued by the Makati Business Club (MBC) questioning the zero budget for PhilHealth, the state health insurer.

The AER also raised concerns that the zero budget for PhilHealth will violate the constitution and “the Filipino people’s right to health.” The subsidy provided by PhilHealth to Filipinos is stated in Section 10 of the Universal Health Care law or Republic Act (RA) 11223.

“By providing zero premiums for Philhealth’s indirect contributors, the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) submitted to your office for signature violates the above-mentioned laws,” AER said.

“We respectfully submit that this is unconstitutional, as existing jurisprudence states that the appropriations law cannot amend a statute. In this instance, it will be amending at least three statutes above, which cannot be done indirectly through the budget,” it added.

The AER proposed that in order to amend the situation, the President should veto line appropriations not in accordance with law and the government’s fiscal program.

These include infrastructure projects not properly vetted by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and those that are not yet ready to be implemented.

Such a line veto would not only provide a budget for PhilHealth but also amend the cuts to basic social services such as education, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), agriculture, transportation, and calamity fund.