Groups criticize PhilHealth's 2025 budget as inadequate for health needs

The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) has approved a P284 billion budget for 2025, which some groups criticize as inadequate. Medical Action Group and Action for Economic Reforms claim the budget only increases by 10% from 2024, which is insufficient for rising benefit payouts. The groups argue that this limited budget will hinder the rollout of the primary care benefit package, essential for the Universal Health Care Act. They emphasize that defunding PhilHealth could harm social health insurance and burden ordinary workers. They are urging President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to restore a P150 billion subsidy for PhilHealth's indirect contributors and to veto the budget, citing potential violations of health care laws.