MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday said the approved 2026 national budget will significantly reduce out-of-pocket health expenses of Filipinos, citing the highest-ever sector-wide allocation under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
DOH Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said the total health budget, including for the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), will reach PHP448 billion, nearly meeting the PHP450 billion annual funding level earlier estimated as necessary for full implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) law.
“Ito na po ang pinakamataas na budget ng Department of Health, sector-wide, the DOH-wide including PhilHealth ay 448 billion pesos po (This is now the highest budget of the Department of Health, sector-wide, including PhilHealth, at PHP448 billion),” Domingo said during a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview, noting the steady increase in health spending under the Marcos administration.
Domingo said PhilHealth will receive PHP129 billion in 2026, including the PHP60 billion ordered returned by the Supreme Court, allowing the state health insurer to expand benefit packages and shoulder a larger portion of hospital costs.
He explained that increased government spending is crucial to lowering out-of-pocket expenses, particularly for low-income families.
“When the government pays more, out-of-pocket expenses go down because PhilHealth pays more,” Domingo said.
He added that zero balance billing in DOH hospitals under basic or ward accommodation will continue and may be expanded to local government unit-run facilities.
Currently, PhilHealth covers about 14 to 15 percent of a patient’s hospital bill, but it aims to increase this to 25 to 30 percent, or even higher, as benefits are expanded.
Domingo noted that the additional funding is expected to benefit a large portion of the population, particularly the poorest sectors.
“Kung aataduhin o hahatiin natin iyong populasyon natin sa tinatawagan na population quintiles, bawat lima ng population, iyong dalawang sabihin na nating mahirap, pinakanangangailangan kayang i-cover noon, so parang two-fifths of the population (If we divide the population into quintiles, the two poorest quintiles, or about two-fifths of the population, stand to benefit the most),” Domingo said, citing that health expenses often consume funds meant for food and other basic needs.
Under the law, private hospitals are also required to allocate at least 10 percent of their beds for UHC patients, while zero balance billing remains assured in DOH hospitals. (PNA)