DOH Considers Philhealth As Solution For Reducing Out- Of-Pocket Expenditures Of Its Members

The Department of Health (DOH) said on Wednesday that the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) can play a major role in bringing down the out-of-pocket expenditures of its sick members.

According to DOH Secretary Janette L. Garin, the PhilHealth can be the “biggest consumer of medicines” as part of the enhancement of its health coverage which can help in the reduction of additional costs that patients shell out in the treatment of their illnesses.

Secretary Garin said that such initiative is something that the next administration should push through as part of enhancing the healthcare system as there are variations in the prices of medicines.

She also said that in the process, PhilHealth can become a procuring entity, especially for the medicines that are usually and directly used by patients.

She noted that it can also help bring down the costs of medicines at the same time.

However, the Health chief said that such innovation will require legislation to allow PhilHealth to do it.

According to her, other ways to do it is through insertion of changes or amendments on the PhilHealth charter and its implementing rules and regulation (IRR).

PhilHealth is an attached agency of the DOH. (PNA) SCS/LSJ