Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go on Tuesday called on government to expand healthcare access and social programs for Filipinos amid projections of higher hospital and clinic costs, and the prevalence of infectious diseases this year.
Go made the remark after WTW Global Medical Trends projected an 18.3 percent rise in medical costs in the Philippines for 2025, marking the second highest increase in the Asia Pacific region. He said this poses a growing challenge to the country’s healthcare sector.
In a radio interview on Monday, Go said that as of now, patients can avail themselves of benefits from Malasakit Centers, Super Health Centers, and Regional Specialty Centers to ease their out-of-pocket expenses in times of medical emergencies.
He added that to date, there are 116 Malasakit Centers which serve as one-stop shops to assist Filipinos in accessing government medical services and financial aid. Super Health Centers, on the other hand, play a critical role in decentralizing healthcare services.
Regional Specialty Centers aim to decentralize specialized healthcare services such as heart and cancer treatment which are currently concentrated in Metro Manila.
The WTW Global Medical Trends report said that medical insurance costs in the Philippines have been rising by double digits for three consecutive years now due to the rebound in claims frequency beyond pre-pandemic levels and higher expenses for medical services.
While slightly lower than the 2024 projection, the trend is expected to remain elevated in the long term due to escalating costs in relation to increased claims as well as the rising cost per claim due to higher medical services and expenses for medical procedures and laboratory requirements.
Go urged the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to strictly and transparently implement its revised case rates as he stressed the need for clarity and inclusivity in addressing the healthcare needs of ordinary Filipinos.This after PhilHealth announced increased benefits and services, including treatments for ischemic heart disease, kidney transplants, and emergency out-patient services. Adjustments have also been made up to 50 percent of select case rates.
However, various sectors have aired concerns about the transparency and capacity of PhilHealth to implement these reforms which leaves many Filipinos uncertain of the benefits they can actually avail themselves of. “We have to ensure that there is a transparent system and clear guidelines so that every member is aware of the benefits due to them. Every citizen should not worry or be anxious when they go to the hospital because the process they will be undergoing is not clear,” Go said.
