PHILIPPINE OBSTETRICAL AND GYNECOLOGICAL SOCIETY (Foundation), INC.

(A Specialty Division of Philippine Medical Association)

No. 56 Malakas Street, Diliman, Quezon City, 1100 Philippines
Telephone Numbers: 921-75-57, 921-7647Fax Number: (02) 921-9089
e-mail address: pogsinc@gmail.com / website: http:www.pogsinc.org

POGS’ POSITION PAPER ON THE INCREASE OF DOCTORS’ PHIC PREMIUM

Since its implementation on October 10, 2019, the leaders as well as the whole
membership of the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (Foundation)
Inc., have expressed full support to the Universal Health Care Law (R.A. 11123) and
its IRR to ensure that every Filipino shall receive affordable and quality health
benefits by providing adequate resources in terms of facilities and financing.

However, the recent PhilHealth Circular No. 2019-0009 that upholds the increase in
PHIC premium that took effect on December 7, 2019 has brought about another
serious concern, if not another wave of confusion that needs clarification, among
physicians including obstetricians-gynecologists.

On December 9, 2019, the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) Position Paper on

the matter was circulated to assure the members that the mother society, together
with the leaders of the eight (8) Specialty Divisions, is on its toes, collaborating with
all relevant organizations and stakeholders to bring the issue to the top management
of the PhilHealth.

The POGS, in its intention to seek immediate clarification and to promptly safeguard
the welfare of its members, met with Dr. Shirley B. Domingo, Vice President of the
Office of the Corporate Affairs Group and official spokesperson of PhilHealth, on
December 10, 2019 at the POGS Office.

According to Dr. Domingo, the most recent circular of PhilHealth is an integral part of
the package of reforms that is engrained in IRR of the UHC Law in the first place and
that it will apply not only to the health sector but to all sectors for that matter. She is
cognizant of the necessity to make this known to all stakeholders and explain its
innate part in the signed IRR in October 2019. Being a law, nobody will be above
implementing rules and regulations of the UHC.

Having read the Position Statement of the Philippine College of Physicians, the POGS
is inclined to support all the stipulations therein and looks forward that the PHIC
takes a second look at the matter with utmost consideration and flexibility.

The effort of the POGS does not end here. On December 18, 2019, the leaders of the
eight Specialty Societies are scheduled to meet with Dr. Rey Melchor F. Santos, the
head of PMA’s Commission on Professional Specialty Divisions and the PHIC
President Brig. Gen. Ricardo Morales at 6:00 PM at the PMA Boardroom. We hope to
come up with a unified Position Statement following this meeting with which the
members will be updated.

On behalf of the Board, we assure the members that this matter is a top priority issue.
Vigilantly, we will be in the forefront of discussions in any forum to express our side
so as to protect our position as physicians and as obstetricians-gynecologists.

CHRISTIA S. PADOLINA, MD
2019 POGS President-Elect