Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday directed Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa to ensure that the services of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) run without a hitch, even with zero government subsidy for 2025. Herbosa, as head of the Department of Health (DOH), concurrently sits as ex-officio chairperson of the state insurance firm.

According to Philippines News Agency, Marcos emphasized the importance of maintaining uninterrupted PhilHealth services during a meeting in Malaca±ang. With PhilHealth receiving zero subsidy for 2025 due to its reserve funds estimated at PHP150 billion, Marcos insisted that this financial setup should not hinder the delivery of healthcare services.

The President reiterated his administration's commitment to prioritize critical sectors such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure in the 2025 budget. He stressed that social services will remain a top priority, ensuring that the needs of the public are met.

In addition, Marcos advocated for a strategic shift within the DOH, moving away from a 'cure' mentality towards a greater focus on 'prevention.' He reinforced this by citing the well-known saying, "an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure."

Furthermore, the President underscored the necessity of digitizing DOH operations to enhance efficiency and service delivery, aligning with his vision to modernize the country's healthcare infrastructure.