DOH vows to stop PhilHealthcard use for polls - Malaya 10.11.2006

BY DENNIS GADIL

HEALTH Secretary Francisco Duque yesterday assured senators that no Philippine Health Insurance (PhilHealth) cards would be issued three months before the midterm elections next year.

But there’s a catch.

Duque wanted an assurance from the Senate finance committee chaired by Sen. Franklin Drilon that the proposed P16 billion budget of the Department of Health for 2007 would not be reduced.

The three-month moratorium could start in February.

Duque said about P3.5 billion of his department’s proposed outlay of P16 billion is earmarked for PhilHealth card distribution.

He told senators they expect to provide health coverage to four million new members next year and bring the membership roster to 20 million.

Duque said the coverage of bulk of PhilHealth members will start expiring in January.

Sen. Edgardo Angara, who was among those who proposed the moratorium, said the DOH could hold the release of the PhilHealth cards to prove that it would not be used for the 2007 elections.

Drilon said the DOH could start the freeze on issuance of new PhilHealth cards once the coverage of some of its members expires on January.

"Puwedeng i-continue ang processing pero huwag ire-release hanggang matapos ang election period," Drilon said.

During a hearing on Malacañang’s proposed P46.4 billion supplemental budget last Aug. 8, the Senate finance committee noted an unusual jump in the PhilHealth membership before and after the 2004 elections.

Sen. Joker Arroyo Jr. has said the PhilHealth membership rose from 9.9 million families between Dec. 30, 2003 and May 11, 2004 to a high of 15.3 million families by December of the election year.

Arroyo has said the six-million jump in the membership of PhilHealth in 2004 was proof the agency was used to boost the election chances of President Arroyo.

"Ibig sabihin nung big increase e dahil ginamit sa eleksyon," Arroyo said.

He said he expects the number to soar again with the 2007 elections approaching.

As of July 2006, PhilHealth membership stood at 12 million.

"The point is the members grew after the 2004 elections," Drilon said.

Appearing before the same panel on Aug. 13, Duque said PhilHealth cards were indeed distributed to gain "political points" for Arroyo during the 2004 elections.

"It was distributed before, during and after the elections," Duque, who was PhilHealth chief in 2004, told the committee on finance.

But Duque stressed PhilHealth cards were already being distributed as early as 2001.