Senator Sonny Angara on Tuesday said the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. led by its acting president Roy Ferrer should lead a “comprehensive financial check-up” to determine if it is in “the pink of health” resources-wise.
“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,” he said.
He said every peso misspent is a peso taken away from poor Filipino families who need it the most.
President Rodrigo Duterte has replaced PhilHealth’s interim president Celestina de la Serna amid a controversy about her excessive hotel and travel expenses. He appointed PhilHealth board of directors member Roy Ferrer to replace De la Serna.
“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,” Angara said.
The senator noted 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, its supposed work is compromised,” he said.
He said the board should have a long-term view, and should insulate the fund from wasteful or populist programs which shorten PhilHealth’s life.
If oversight had not been lax, he said questionable expenses like the hotel bills of the previous PhilHealth president would have been flagged early.
He also expressed concern over the alleged diversion of the P10.6 billion funds for senior citizens to the supposed construction of rural health units in 2015.
“We must ensure that the funds allocated for our seniors will nit be wasted. We will not allow that the institution created by my father would be tainted with corruption. His intenr was to make the medical treatment reachable for our senior citizen and our poor countrymen,” said Angara, author of the Expanded Senior Citizens law and the Universal Health Care law.
Angara’s father, the late Senator Edgardo Angara, is the principal author of the law creating PhilHealth and the Senior Citizens Act.
“We should remember 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.
“Because of the important role it plays, PhilHealth can’t afford to be financially distressed. Kalusugan ng bawat Pilipino ang nakataya rito,” Angara said.
Angara added that after her dismissal, former Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) interim president Celestina de la Serna should be charged for “mismanaging” the funds of the national health insurer.
Earlier, Senator JV Ejercito said charges must also be filed against De La Serna, former PhilHealth president Alexander Padilla and former Department of Health Secretary Janette Garin.
“Not only De La Serna, but all the past PhilHealth officials like Garin and Padilla responsible for mismanaging the funds resulting in its current sorry financial state right now,” Ejercito, chairman of the Senate committee on health and demography.
Ejercito has earlier suggested to the President to appoint a financial expert who can manage PhilHealth’s funds and investment portfolio.
“With PhilHealth’s current situation, and not to undermine capabilities of doctors, we really need a financial wiz to fix all its troubles!” he said.
The senator said the collapse of PhilHealth looms if the current financial management would continue.