MANILA, Philippines - The Aquino administration will release P8.3 billion to fully subsidize the health premiums of indigent patients.
Budget and Management Secretary Florencio Abad said the government would be providing full subsidy to indigent patients of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (Philhealth).
The P8.5 billion is part of the P12-billion allocation for the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) for indigents under the 2012 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
According to Abad, a total of 3.41 million qualified beneficiaries have already been identified for the program.
The figure is based on an updated database from the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Abad said the move would help address “financial barriers” that prevent indigents from seeking treatment for their health concerns.
“By fully subsidizing the insurance premiums of indigent patients, qualified families can have better access to outpatient and inpatient services at PhilHealth-accredited facilities,” he said.
Under Department of Health Administrative Order 2010-0036, or the Aquino Health Agenda, the implementation of a universal health care system shall ensure the achievement of a better, sustained, and responsive health system by guaranteeing equitable access to affordable health care for all Filipinos.
“Gaining access to quality healthcare has always been a challenge for poor indigent Filipinos, many of whom cannot afford the cost of proper medical aid,” he said.