LET us come together and push for a new culture, a new way of doing things - of putting the common good ahead of personal interest... to be a people worthy of being Filipinos... to be Filipinos worthy of the Philippines.

With these words, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto C. Abella called on advocates of the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) to understand that “in terms of social progress, the Philippines, after all these years of growth, continues to wrestle with basic human needs” including nutrition and basic medical care.

Addressing guests at the 22nd Anniversary celebration of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) at the Blue Leaf Events Pavilion in Taguig City, Abella described President Rodrigo Roa Duterte as “a visionary, a disruptor of status quo” whose aim is to put in place the social structures “that will provide Filipinos a comfortable life.”

He added that Duterte has seen “the gap between the so-called economic growth, the wealth of a few, the suffering of the many, and the impunity and callousness of those who could make a difference but chose to make the wrong decisions,” that is why he is pushing for health for all Filipinos and approved additional funding for the indigent sector.

He also lauded PhilHealth’s move to enhance its products and services, that included the Medical Detoxification package and the Z Benefit Package for Children with Disabilities. He said that while Duterte’s rhetoric disturbs many, “we need to understand that it comes from his persona experience of the insanity that certain drugs like meth, can cause otherwise bright and normal young people.”

Abella cited two instances of hospitalization, but with different end-results. “Lesson learned? It pays to have PhilHealth. But how many Filipinos really have access to universal health insurance?” he said.

The medical detoxification package is a benefit package worth P10,000.00 that is available at all accredited Levels 1, 2, and 3 government hospitals and Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Centers licensed/certified by the Department of Health and to be accredited by PhilHealth. (END)