MANILA – The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) was urged to undergo a “comprehensive financial check-up” to ensure its long-term viability.
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday replaced PhilHealth interim president Celestina de la Serna with PhilHealth Board of Directors member Roy Ferrer.
“We hope Dr. Ferrer can look after the financials of PhilHealth amidst the allegations of excessive travel expenses, overpayment of claims, and other problems which threaten the financial viability of PhilHealth funds. Every peso misspent is a peso taken away from poor Filipino families who need it the most,” Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara said.
Angara said that there should be a body that will “capably track PhilHealth’s actuarial life.”
“Ideally, it should be the PhilHealth board that shall serve as ‘guarantor of PhilHeath’s sustainability.’ But if the board is subject to political or management capture, it’s supposed work is compromised. The board should have a long-term view, and should insulate the fund from wasteful or populist programs which shorten PhilHealth’s life,” the senator explained.
According to him, the questionable spending of the former PhilHealth president would have been flagged early if the Board had not been lax in its oversight function.
Angara also lamented the diversion of the P10.6 billion fund for senior citizens to the Department of Health for the construction of rural health units in 2015.
“Dapat ay siguruhin nating hindi nawawaldas ang pondong nakalaan para sa ating mga seniors. Hindi natin papayagang mabahiran ng katiwalian ang institusyong nilikha ng aking ama na ang layunin ay gawing abot-kaya ang pagpapagamot lalo na para sa mga senior citizen at mahihirap nating kababayan na higit na nangangailangan nito,” he added.
The author of the “Expanded Senior Citizens” law and the “Universal Health Care” law reminded the public that PhilHealth is a “megacorporation.”
“Last year, it spent over P100 billion in payouts. It is also a major recipient of government funds, with more than P60 billion allocated in this year’s national budget for the enrollment of 15 million indigents and senior citizens,” said Angara.
“Because of the important role it plays, PhilHealth can’t afford to be financially distressed. Kalusugan ng bawat Pilipino ang nakataya rito,” he concluded. (ABS-CBN News)
