Romeena Minor

For the longest time, the mouths of millions of Filipinos have been stuffed with the bitter taste of healthcare injustice. Will this year be, at last, any sweeter than the last?


The persisting pests in the country’s healthcare system—unequal access due to staggering poverty, fragmented insurance systems, and inadequately-funded public facilities—which have led our people, especially the poorest of the poor, to sleep off their ailments, wait until infections kill themselves, or complications settle down, or, the worst of them all, their breaths just cease, may have gotten the best of our people for the past few decades; but it seems as though the House Bill 11357 will be just the right pesticide to eradicate these hungry menaces. 

A provision under HB11357, principally authored by Committee on Health Chair and Batanes Lone District Rep. Ciriaco Gato Jr. along with 67 other co-authors, which was declared approve after having collected 191 affirmative votes on Feb. 3, is the decrease in the premium controbution rate for Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) from the current five percent to 3.5 percent. Lower costs for healthcare is an act of mercy from the government which I have not seen or heard of in a while, considering how financially hungry these people have been known to be. 

Other than the decrease in contribution rates, HB 11357 also aims to amend the existing system wherein the administrative expenses of PhilHealth—which has a maximum limit of 7.5 percent—will be reimbursed from the total premium collections, as per the Republic Act 11223 or the Universal Healthcare Act. In the revised version, this portion of administrative expenses will only be reimbursed based on the total benefits granted by the insurance to its members; a brutal slap to those who only ever wanted to cash-cow the Filipino populace. Slacking off no more!

Furthermore, a 2023 study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) found that most Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) could not readily enjoy state-led healthcare due to the lack of bilateral agreements with foreign nations. This problem, too, is addressed by HB 11357, as it requires employers to shoulder 5 percent of OFWs’ insurance, while the government will settle the remaining. Finally, a just compensation to the biggest industry in Philippine workforce. 

While all the provisions granted by HB 11357 are undeniably promising, one aspect to look out for is, and always will be, its implementation. The bill promised that the contribution rates are still subject to adjustments based on actuarial studies to be validated by “impartial, non-governmental, and independent bodies”; but just how impartial can someone be when large sums are involved?

Although it is far too early to doubt, it is also a journey to the unknown to trust a freshly-approved bill. As always, legislation per se is easy; words are always just as they are. But to see these provisions in action is the real deal. Nevertheless, a step forward is a step forward. At least, in the most optimistic sense, we are a centimeter closer to feeling the health in PhilHealth.