THE state health insurer PhilHealth is doing its best to curb corruption in the agency, says a Malacañang official.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that PhilHealth officials are aware of the deadline set by President Rodrigo Duterte, who earlier gave the state medical insurer until this month rid its system of systemic corrupt practices.
Duterte earlier said he wanted PhilHealth chief Dante Gierran to “clean up” corruption by December, after whistleblowers accused its officials of pocketing P15 billion in state funds and approving overpriced projects and fund releases to supposedly favored hospitals.
Roque added that Gierran has heeded the President’s order to reshuffle PhilHealth’s regional and senior vice presidents —“Alam naman natin (we know) na familiarity somehow affects accountability,” Roque was quoted as saying to newsmen.
The Palace mouthpiece went on to claim that Gierran also consulted medical professionals on preventing fraudulent claims and talked with dialysis clinics after some of these allegedly charged the government for the treatment of “ghost” patients.
PhilHealth has expanded its dialysis coverage to 133 sessions per year from the previous 90, he added.
“Nakikita naman po natin na ‘pag binabawasan ang korapsyon, napapadami po ang benepisyo para sa ating mga mamamayan,” he said.
Duterte recently approved the filing of charges against Gierran’s predecessor Ricardo Morales and other PhilHealth officials accused of irregularities.
Last month, he said he would no longer seek the abolition of PhilHealth because “it’s not easy really to create another one.” He also told corrupt government officials that resignation would not save their necks.