Private hospitals urged to adopt PhilHealth no co-payment policy

President Marcos witnesses the signing of a memorandum of agreement between St. Luke’s Medical Center-Global City and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. yesterday. The agreement was signed by (from left) PhilHealth senior vice president Carlo Irwin Panelo, PhilHealth acting president and chief executive officer Beverly Lorraine Ho, St. Luke’s Medical Center president and chief executive officer Dennis Serrano and St. Luke’s senior vice president and medical director Anthony Perez.

Noel Pabalate

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos urged more private hospitals yesterday to adopt the “no co-payment policy” for eligible Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) members admitted to basic or ward accommodations.

Marcos made the call after witnessing the signing of a memorandum of agreement between PhilHealth and St. Luke’s Medical Center-Global City to strengthen the implementation of the policy and support the government’s Universal Health Care agenda.

“By joining this effort, St. Luke’s also sends an important message: that quality care in leading private hospitals can be made more accessible to qualified PhilHealth members, and that both government and the private sector have a role in making Universal Health Care work,” Marcos said in his speech.

“People with ailments should no longer be afraid to go to a private hospital due to lack of funds to pay for treatment,” he said.

Under the no co-payment policy, eligible PhilHealth members admitted to basic or ward accommodations in private hospitals do not have to pay additional charges for medical services covered by PhilHealth.

Calling on more private hospitals to provide affordable health care to Filipinos, he said: “We encourage more hospitals across the country to support PhilHealth in advancing Universal Health Care by embracing the no co-payment policy. Together, let us ensure that no Filipino is denied the care that they need only because of financial hardship.”

The policy was initially limited to indigent patients but was expanded under Republic Act 11223, or the Universal Health Care Act, to cover all Filipinos regardless of their financial or employment status.