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Philhealth, instrument for amassing profits
While the regime has steadily been reducing the health budget, it boasts that through the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP, or formerly Medicare) or Philhealth, health services for the people are guaranteed. Philhealth supposedly defrays the basic costs of medical services of more and more Filipinos.
In reality, Philhealth�s only aim is to amass profits from the tiny incomes of ordinary workers and employees. Government employees, who are automatically covered, are obliged to pay premiums through direct salary deductions. Philhealth also encourages workers in private companies to set aside a portion of their monthly wage (like the SSS). But for every one peso �contribution�, only P0.22 goes to the health expenses of members and beneficiaries. The rest goes straight to the profit box.
Philhealth connives with health maintenance organizations (HMO). Most of the latter are foreign private companies like Phil. American Gen. Insurance Co. (American) and Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, that solicit premiums for continued medical services within a specific period. Members are not able to recoup the premiums if they are not able to avail of the services. In many cases, HMOs contradict doctors� medical advice and scrimp on the services extended to patients just to save on costs and ensure big profits for the company.
One of the provisions of the HSRA calls for the expansion of Philhealth�s coverage because this is supportive of the government�s complete abandonment of its responsibility to extend health services to the people. It is a response to the IMF-WB policy of reducing government expenditures for social services.
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 August 2002
English Edition
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Ang Bayan is the official news organ of the Communist Party of the Philippines issued by the CPP Central Committee. It provides news about the work of the Party as well as its analysis of and standpoint on current issues.
AB comes out fortnightly. It is published originally in Pilipino and translated into Bisaya, Ilokano, Waray, Hiligaynon and English.
Acrobat PDF files of AB are available online for downloading and offline reading printing. If you wish to receive copies of AB via email, click here. |
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