Health workers strongly condemned the Senate and House of Representatives bicameral committee for slashing the 2025 health budget during its bicameral committee meeting last December 11. This is a big blow and burden on the Filipino people and the health sector, they said. Marcos is expected to sign the budget before Christmas.

The budget for the Department of Health was reduced by almost ₱30 billion, while the allocation for public hospitals was reduced by ₱861.7 million. Additionally, the committee defunded the Philhealth of its ₱74 billion allocation.

“Health is a basic right that should be guaranteed by the state,” Filipino Nurses United deputy secretary general and Makabayan Coalition senatorial candidate Nurse Alyn Andamo said. Instead of slashing the budget, the government should focus on addressing systemic issues that cause ill health in the country.

Andamo also pointed out that the current “commercialized and privatized health system” that charges Filipinos exorbitant fees are to be heavily blamed. In the Philippines, out-of-pocket expenses for health services reach nearly 45%.

“Health workers and ordinary citizens bear witness and suffer from the shortage, high cost, and inaccessibility of health services. The government is passing its health responsibility to us,” the Health Workers Party-list stated. This is clearly manifested in the PhilHealth operations which privatizes health security.

“Over and above paying taxes, we pay increasing PhilHealth premiums. When we get sick, we even pay for medications and laboratory/procedures not covered by PhilHealth benefits,” the party added. Thus PhilHealth fund cut will significantly be detrimental to those who depend on it due to the lack of proper and free public health service.

Amid all these, health workers are united in calling for direct government funding of public health services nationwide. They demand the assurance that 5% of the gross domestic product (GDP) be allocated to health, in line with the World Health Organization’s recommendation. Along with this, they demand the government assume its responsibility instead of privatizing the necessary public infrastructure and health centers up to the barangays.

Salaries for health workers and communities must also be increased. “Provide living wages, adequate benefits, and regular jobs for health workers to encourage them to stay and serve the country,” according to the Health Workers Party-list.