Marcos backs St. Luke's-PhilHealth deal to boost healthcare access

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday threw his support behind a healthcare partnership designed to expand access to medical services across the country. The president witnessed the signing of a memorandum of agreement between St. Luke's Medical Center–Global City and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) that introduces a no co-payment policy.

The initiative is expected to reduce out-of-pocket expenses for patients seeking treatment at the private medical facility, lowering financial barriers to quality healthcare. By eliminating co-payments under the agreement, the partnership aims to make medical services more affordable and accessible to a broader segment of the Filipino population.

Marcus emphasized that such collaborations between private healthcare providers and government insurance programs are vital to improving health outcomes nationwide. The partnership represents a step toward bridging gaps in healthcare delivery and ensuring that financial constraints do not prevent Filipinos from accessing quality medical treatment.

PhilHealth has been working to strengthen its network of partner hospitals and clinics to enhance coverage and reduce out-of-pocket costs for its members. The agreement with St. Luke's–Global City is among recent efforts to expand the reach of government-subsidized healthcare services across Metro Manila and beyond.