Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva led the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the turnover of medical assistance funds from the Department of Health (DOH) to 10 government hospitals in Quezon City at the Quezon City Hall on Wednesday, August 2, 2023.
Villanueva, who is celebrating his birthday on the day of the signing, said that one of his main priorities is to ensure that every Filipino is relieved of the financial burden brought about by high medical expenses.
“Out-of-pocket health expenses remain to be the biggest burden for Filipinos,” he said.
According to the Philippine Institute of Development Studies (PIDS), only 40 percent of medical expenses are covered by the National Health Insurance Program of the government.
Meanwhile, in 2021, Filipinos spend an average of P10,000 a year for medical-related expenses according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.
“Our main priority is to make sure that every Filipino gets the service that they deserve, not only in our legislative achievements in the Senate but also through the government’s social programs,” Villanueva said.
He thanked Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, DOH Metro Manila Center for Health and Development Officer-in-Charge Director Dr. Pretchell Tolentino and the Medical Directors of the 10 hospitals for their dedication to provide quality health-care services to their constituents.
The 10 QC-based government hospitals that received P5 million medical assistance funds each from the DOH through the initiative of Villanueva are East Avenue Medical Center, National Children’s Hospital, Philippine Orthopedic Hospital, Quirino Memorial Medical Center, Lung Center of the Philippines, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, Philippine Heart Center, Veterans Memorial Medical Center and Quezon City General Hospital.
