Recto proposal will worsen the plight of the poorest in health and could violate health human rights of all as defined by SC Executive Secretary Recto is directly challenging the SC decision on the transfer of PHIC funds issued last December by proposing a different health benefit for direct members and leaving out the indirect members. To quote the Supreme Court decision (page 107, Dec. 5. 2025): “Special Provision 1(d) of the 2024 GAA and DoF Circular No. 003-2024 infringed the people’s right to health and right to an affordable, sustainable, and accessible public healthcare insurance.”

By increasing benefits for one sector alone Recto will violate the people’s right to health again:

The SC stated “Indeed; Article XIII, Section 11 of the Constitution holds this facet of the right to health as a prime goal, and specifically mandates the State to endeavor to make health services available to all at affordable costs. As the right to have affordable and accessible healthcare for all has been raised to the level of constitutional or fundamental right, it has become a core content or the minimum standard of the right to health.”

UHCA as a Social Contract

The Universal Health Care Act is simply a social contract (kasunduan ng gobyerno at mamamayan) that binds government to provide affordable and accessible healthcare for all, not just a few. It is founded on the principle of solidarity (pagkakapit-bisig) where the poor are supported by those with means (may-kaya) and those who are sick are given access to healthcare that are not being used by those who are well and healthy.

Even the poor contribute their share when they pay EVAT and sin taxes, and the well off share a portion of their income through PHIC contributions. How will Recto calculate the contribution of the poor and indirect members?

By allowing population health to improve by attending to those who are sick, community health rises and health outcomes improve. If resources in health are spent efficiently and effectively, the health system will be ready for future health events for those who are not sick today.

The poor have not fared well in terms of health
Under this administration, the poor have been paying more for their health than the richest, as shown in the 2025 Philippine National Health Accounts released last week by the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Tables 25-27 show that from 2023 to 2025 the poorest quintile’s expenditure for health increased by over 40% (from P208.993b in 2023 to P351.130b in 2025).

On the other hand, the richest quintile’s expenditure increased by only 24% (from P389.314b in 2023 to P517.092b in 2025).
This administration’s record has led to the poor spending more for their own health during its reign and yet wants to give more benefits for the richer segment of the population to gain popularity or pogi points. By challenging the ruling of the Supreme Court, this administration risks violating our health human rights again.

Statement by Dr Juan Antonio Perez III, MD, MPH
With Medical Action Group and Universal Health Care Collective

June 20, 2026
jeepyperez@gmail.com

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