Three Pangasinan towns demand accounting of PhilHealth primary care funds

Three municipalities in Pangasinan province have filed a formal petition with the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. seeking transparency over primary care funds managed through the province's unified health system. The municipalities' joint action reflects growing concerns about fund management at the provincial level.

The petition centers on accountability for P1,700 in PhilHealth primary care funding designated per qualified beneficiary in the province. The municipalities are seeking detailed documentation of how these allocated resources have been spent and whether they have reached intended beneficiaries in their communities.

The move represents an escalation in tensions between local government units and provincial health administrators over control and visibility of health insurance resources. Local officials argue that transparency in fund allocation and expenditure is essential for ensuring that primary healthcare services reach residents effectively.

PhilHealth's primary care benefit program aims to provide basic health services to registered members. The accountability demand suggests discrepancies or delays in how provincial health systems have managed and distributed these funds to individual municipalities.

The petition is expected to prompt PhilHealth management to conduct a comprehensive review of fund flows and expenditures at the provincial level, potentially reshaping how primary care resources are allocated and monitored in Pangasinan.