By Rjay Zuriaga Castor
 |
| Senator Imee Marcos (PHOTO: Manila Bulletin) |
Senator Imee Marcos expressed her disbelief and questioned
the audacity in the plans of PhilHealth to increase its premiums by 2021.
“Kapal ng mukha ng PhilHealth magtaas ng premium! Managot
kaya sila muna sa bilyun-bilyong reserve funds na nawawala bago
magdagdag-singil? At saan na naman mapupunta ang pera?” Marcos quoted by News5
saying.
According to Marcos, the PhilHealth is too “thick-skinned”
to even ask its members to pay more for its contributions despite the agency
facing allegations of corruption.
She added, “Ang PhilHealth, sa kabila ng katakot-takot na
scam diyan, may gana pang magtaas ng premium. Hello?!”
On her official Facebook page, Marcos issued a formal
statement on the controversial
PhilHealth contributions increase.
"I know that the increase in PhilHealth contributions
is consonant to the implementation of the Universal Health Care Law
(UHC)," she wrote.
"Very much like the earlier announcement of increase in
SSS contributions beginning 2021, the timing of these increases coincides with
a period of overwhelming economic difficulty due to the pandemic," Marcos
added.
She went on to stress that due to the COVID-19 pandemic,
more people are in need of services of PhilHealth. She said it is “cruel” to
increase contributions at this time and said it is nothing but an “unusual
punishment” to the members.
On top of the financial consequences of the pandemic, the
senator said it imposes an additional burden to contributors, emphasizing it is
"cruel" and nothing but an “unusual punishment” to the members.
Marcos said the institution need to focus on regaining its
name and reputation to its members after the scandals they were recently
involved in.
"What is essential immediately is for PhilHealth to
regain the confidence and trust of the public. PhilHealth's reputation has been
eroded from recent scandals and it has to resolve the issues that continue to
hound the institution. It should demonstrate that it can properly deliver its
services to its members and that members are satisfied and are getting back
what they are contributing," she concluded.
According to PhilHealth, under the Universal Health Care
law, the minimal increases in the contribution rate are needed to ensure the
long-term actuarial sustainability of the system.
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