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TINIYAK ng pamunuan ng Kamara na mananaig ang pagsusulong ng P411.2 bilyon para sa public health services sa ilalim ng 2026 national budget.
Ito ang inihayag ni House Appropriations Committee chairperson Rep. Mika Suansing sa pagbubukas ng Bicam hearing kung saan tampok ang P90.8 bilyon na idinagdag ng Kamara para sa health sector — kabilang ang P60- billion subsidy para sa Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).
“With the P60 billion added by the House, the total subsidy for PhilHealth increases to P113 billion, geared towards the improvement of benefits, (also), the House version of the (2026) GAB also provides an additional P25 billion for the Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP), bringing its total funding to P49.2 billion,” ayon sa Kinatawan ng Nueva Ecija sa Kamara.
“This is meant to actualize the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to provide zero balance billing for indigent patients in government hospitals,” dagdag pa niya.
Paliwanag ni Suansing, sa bersyon ng Kamara sa 2026 General Appropriations Bill (GAB), layunin sa likod ng dagdag sa pondo ng PhilHealth itaas ang iba’t-ibang benefit packages ng ahensya, at bawasan ang ‘out-of-pocket expenses’ sa pagpapagamot ng low-income families.
Sa sabay na pagtataas ng PhilHealth funding at MAIFIP allocations, matutugnan aniya ang malaking kakulangan sa health care financing at masisiguro ang mga pampublikong ospital ay makapagbibigay ng kaukulang serbisyo nang hindi sinisingil ang mga pasyenteng maralita.
“The House health sector allocations in its version of the 2026 General Appropriations Bill align with the (Marcos) administration’s social protection priorities and are aimed at delivering concrete improvements in healthcare access and outcomes,” ani Suansing.
“As bicameral deliberations continue, the House panel will work with the Senate to ensure that the final version of the 2026 General Appropriations Act retains the enhanced health sector funding and advances the goal of universal, affordable healthcare for Filipinos.” (ROMER BUTUYAN)
