TWO House leaders have dismissed concerns over the removal of the P74-billion government subsidy for PhilHealth, calling criticisms “lies” and “fake news.”
Assistant Majority Leader Jude Acidre, reacting to claims that Filipinos will struggle to afford healthcare without the subsidy, urged critics to “stop spreading false stories.” He assured the public that PhilHealth has sufficient funds to cover its programs for at least two years.
Deputy Majority Leader Paolo Ortega echoed Acidre’s sentiments, suggesting that critics spreading “fake news” may not even be PhilHealth members. He emphasized that PhilHealth has enough funds to cover its members for the entire year and that those needing healthcare can also access the Department of Health’s (DOH) medical assistance program for indigents, which he claims provides even greater assistance than PhilHealth.
While acknowledging the public’s frustration over the lack of PhilHealth case rate updates in the past decade, Acidre stated that the House will investigate the matter and review where PhilHealth’s P607 billion reserve funds are being invested.
This version of the article focuses on the key points of the original article while simplifying the language and removing unnecessary details. It also strengthens the tone of the article by highlighting the House leaders’ dismissal of the concerns and their emphasis on the availability of alternative healthcare resources.
metrosundaily
