In a directive issued during a Cabinet meeting at Malacañang on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. instructed Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa to ensure that the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) continues to provide uninterrupted services throughout the year, despite receiving no government subsidy for 2025. Herbosa, who also serves as the ex-officio chairperson of PhilHealth, was tasked with maintaining the quality of healthcare services, leveraging the corporation’s substantial reserve funds of approximately PHP150 billion. President Marcos emphasized the importance of healthcare as a critical sector, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to prioritizing social services in the 2025 budget. Additionally, Marcos advocated for a strategic shift within the Department of Health (DOH) from a focus on treatment to a greater emphasis on preventive care, echoing the sentiment that prevention is more valuable than cure. The President also stressed the necessity of modernizing the DOH’s operations through digitization to enhance efficiency and service delivery, aligning with his broader vision for the modernization of the nation’s healthcare infrastructure.
Marcos Urges Health Secretary to Maintain Seamless PhilHealth Operations Amid Zero Subsidy
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