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Workers pait the walls of a hospital in in Quezon City on August 15, 2019. ABS-CBN News

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Arra Perez

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — A portion of the excess funds of state insurer PhilHealth was used to finance the recently released Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) for healthcare workers, the Department of Health (DOH) said Wednesday. Health Spokesperson Asec. Albert Domingo disclosed this after the reported compliance of PhilHealth to the executive department&#x27;s move to divert excess funds of government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCC) to finance unprogrammed appropriations this year. <div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/2024/7/16/funds-from-contributions-of-paying-members-not-included-in-philhealth-fund-transfer-exec-1445" id="isPasted">Funds from contributions of paying members not included in PhilHealth fund transfer - exec </a></div>&quot;Tingnan natin iyong Sec. 11 ng Republic Act 1123 or ng Universal Health Care Act. Ang nakalagay po doon ay kung merong sobrang pera ang PhilHealth ay dapat itinaas ang benepisyo or ibinaba ang ating mga premiums. So ito naman po ay nangyayari na simula sa taong ito 2024 onwards,&quot; Domingo told reporters at the sideline of a forum on National Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Day. (Let&#x27;s look at Section 11 of Republic Act 1123 or the Universal Health Care Act. It states that if PhilHealth has excess funds, the benefits should be increased or the premiums should be reduced. This has been happening starting this year, 2024 onwards.) Domingo pointed out that the Department of Finance (DOF) was only following a special provision of the national budget law that states if the funds are not used, they should not be kept in reserve but should be returned to the people in another way. &quot;At isa na doon sa nakita namin is ginamit nga siya ng ating DOF at DBM (Department of Budget and Management) papunta sa Health Emergency Allowance. Kaya po nagkagulatan nang maganda at nagkaroon ng pambayad sa HEA is dahil nagkaroon po ng pondo, at ang pondong ito pala ay nanggaling doon sa kinuha sa PhilHealth,&quot; he added. (And one of the things we observed is that the DOF and the Department of Budget and Management  used these funds for the Health Emergency Allowance (HEA). This is why there was a pleasant surprise, and funds were available for the HEA because the money came from PhilHealth&#x27;s excess funds.) <div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/5/herbosa-hopes-healthcare-workers-will-receive-covid-allowance-soon-1631" id="isPasted">Herbosa hopes healthcare workers will receive COVID allowance soon</a> </div>Domingo said around P20 billion of PhilHealth&#x27;s excess funds was used to fund the HEA. The official also acknowledged the concerns of some health advocates on the transfer of the said funds to the national government. &quot;Sang-ayon po kami sa ating mga civil society [organizations, individuals] na nagsasabi na ang perang pangkalusugan ay dapat sa kalusugan ginamit. At sa pagkaalam nga po namin, na sinabi naman ng Department of Health, itong kinuha sa PhilHealth ay ginamit pang pondo para sa Health Emergency Allowance ng ating mga health care workers. So kumbaga lumipat lang po mula sa bangko papunta sa tao,&quot; he shared. (We agree with our civil society organizations and individuals who say that health funds should be used for health purposes. As we understand it, and as stated by the Department of Health, the funds taken from PhilHealth were used to fund the Health Emergency Allowance for our healthcare workers. So, in a sense, the money just moved from the bank to the people.) Earlier, health advocate Dr. Tony Leachon called for an investigation on the issue, and insisted that PhilHealth should be held &quot;accountable&quot;.Former Sen. Panfilo &quot;Ping&quot; Lacson said the measure &quot;may create some serious security problems”, urging policymakers to rethink their position.  PhilHealth Corporate Affairs Vice President Rey Baleña told ABS-CBN News that the fund transfer does not include contributions from paying members. The fund transfer instead came from the unused portion of the national government subsidy released to PhilHealth, he said. The official also noted that the state insurer has been &quot;aggressively enhancing&quot; its benefit packages for various illnesses.

A portion of the excess funds of PhilHealth was used to finance the Health Emergency Allowance for healthcare workers, the DOH said.

A portion of the excess funds of PhilHealth was used to finance the Health Emergency Allowance for healthcare workers, the DOH said.

Part of PhilHealth excess funds used for Health Emergency Allowance: DOH

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Part of PhilHealth excess funds used for Health Emergency Allowance: DOH

Arra Perez,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 17, 2024 04:58 PM PHT

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