Roque says no to PhilHealth privatization

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Friday opposed the privatization of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), saying that it runs counter to the “very principle” of the Universal Healthcare Law.

Some lawmakers and even President Rodrigo Duterte earlier suggested privatizing the state health insurance firm that has been hounded by numerous allegations of irregularities.

“I do not agree with privatization. Because privatization goes against the very principle of Universal Healthcare,” Roque said in an interview over CNN Philippines’ The Source.

“Universal Healthcare is distinguished from private health insurance because it is number one, it is a discharge of state obligation to promote the right to health and it is a commitment that although members have to pay their dues, in reality, the dues will not be enough and the balance, of course, will be paid for by the government,” he added.

When he was still a lawmaker, Roque tried to abolish PhilHealth and replace it with his proposed National Health Service (NHS) while Republic Act 11223 or Universal Health Law was still being deliberated in Congress.

However, the said provision never made it in the final version of the law.

The law expands access to health services by automatically enrolling all Filipinos in PhilHealth’s National Health Insurance Program (NHIP).

PhilHealth’s new chief Dante Gierran also opposed privatizing the agency, noting that it will only send a “wrong signal” that people distrust government officials.

/MUF