Latest NewsNewsTFT News

PhilHealth to face Senate on allegations of corruption, incompetence and inefficiency

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) will now face the Senate to respond to allegations of corruption, incompetence, and other malpractices within the health insurance company.

Senator Panfilo Lacson stated that the inquiry is being conducted after several incumbent and recently resigned PhilHealth officials urged the Senate to help “drain the swamp” to remove corruption within the agency.

“And for good reason. PhilHealth is a murky, stinking swamp that many of its good and well-meaning people from the officials to their rank-and-file employees (are) drained, not just of some corrupt but well-entrenched officials who do not seem to run out of malevolent schemes to enrich themselves, but of a deeply rooted, mafia-like syndicate that controls the resources of the corporation, and habitually manipulate its financial records, that even the COA (Commission on Audit) seems helpless in the conduct of their regular audit,” said Senator Lacson during his opening statement.

RELATED STORY: Duterte orders investigation into PhilHealth corruption issues

Lacson alluded to several “high-ranking officials” who retained their positions within PhilHealth despite several changes of leadership and anomalies, as per reports from the Philippine News Agency.

“Suffice it to say, Mr. President, this is the reason why we are gathered here yet again to conduct this inquiry not only in aid of legislation but more importantly in aid of the more than 104 million members and dependents of PhilHealth, as well as all the taxpayers of this country,” said Senator Lacson.

Officials stated that said among the issues to be discussed in the hearing are PhilHealth’s alleged overpriced ICT equipment; the manipulation of PhilHealth’s financial statements; and the highly irregular implementation of advanced payments to health care institutions through the Interim Reimbursement Mechanism (IRM) policy.

READ ON: PhilHealth’s alleged widespread corruption fuels Senate angst

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, meanwhile, said he found it “absolutely outrageous and offensive” that amid the pandemic, the agency mandated to provide health insurance coverage and ensure accessible health care services for Filipinos continuous to be haunted by controversies.

“Mr. Chairman, our healthcare system is on the brink of collapse. Our healthcare workers are burned out, physically and mentally. We are at war, yet it seems that the plague of PhilHealth corruption could be more fatal than any other virus. How can PhilHealth officials sleep well at night?” he said.

“We hope that this hearing will shed light on the various issues and finally stop the widespread corruption,” Drilon said.

Staff Report

The Filipino Times is the chronicler of stories for, of and by Filipinos all over the world, reaching more than 236 countries in readership. Any interesting story to share? Email us at [email protected]

Related Articles

Back to top button