Need to expand access to healthcare cited
MEDICAL costs in the Philippines are projected to rise by 18.3% in 2025, marking the second-highest increase in the Asia Pacific region. This sharp surge, as reported by the WTW Global Medical Trends Survey, underscores growing challenges in the country’s healthcare sector, including increased use of services, higher hospital and clinic costs, and a rising prevalence of diseases.
Against this backdrop, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go reiterated the need of expanding healthcare access and strengthening social programs for Filipinos. He also highlighted the pressing issue of rising medical costs, which often force Filipinos to rely on out-of-pocket expenses, putting an additional strain on their livelihood.
During an interview with Brigada News FM Manila’s Tira Brigada program on Monday, January 6, Senator Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, outlined his healthcare priorities for 2025, focusing on three key initiatives: Malasakit Centers, Super Health Centers, and Regional Specialty Centers.
He explained that Malasakit Centers serve as one-stop shops to assist Filipinos in accessing government medical services and financial aid.
“Mayroon na po tayong 166 na Malasakit Center sa buong Pilipinas,” he said.
Senator Go is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 11463, or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program. The Department of Health (DOH) reports that the Malasakit Center program has already provided aid to more than 15 million Filipinos.
For remote communities, Super Health Centers play a critical role in decentralizing healthcare. “Halimbawa ang Batangas, may Super Health Center sa Tingloy. It’s an island, dalawang oras ang biyahe papunta sa ospital. Ngayon po mayroon na silang Super Health Center,” Senator Go shared. More than 700 of these centers are funded nationwide, with over 100 to be added this year through his collaboration with DOH, LGUs and fellow lawmakers.
In response to the rising costs of specialized medical care, Senator Go pushed for the establishment of Regional Specialty Centers. These facilities aim to decentralize specialized healthcare services, such as heart and cancer treatment, which are currently concentrated in Metro Manila. “Kami pong mga probinsyano, tayo na nasa malalayong lugar ay wala pong access sa Heart Center dahil nasa Quezon City,” he noted.
Senator Go principally sponsored and is one of the authors of Republic Act No. 11959, also known as the Regional Specialty Centers Act. The law mandates the establishment of regional specialty centers within existing DOH regional hospitals.
The WTW report noted that Philippine medical insurance costs have been rising by double digits for three consecutive years due to a rebound in claims frequency beyond pre-pandemic levels and higher expenses for medical services. While slightly lower than the 2024 projection, this trend is expected to remain elevated in the long term. WTW attributed the escalating costs to increased claims and the rising cost per claim due to higher medical service and procedure expenses.
