Sen. Gordon Wants PhilHealth Probe for Not Paying to Red Cross for COVID-19 Swab Test
GORDON – Senator Richard Gordon pushed for investigation of PhilHealth over its non-payment to the Philippine Red Cross.
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or more commonly called as PhilHealth is currently surrounded by corruption issues. A former PhilHealth official claimed that ill practices involving money are happening inside the government agency.
Then, PhilHealth was led by Ricardo Morales. An investigation was lodged over the allegations. It undeniably alarmed a lot of people as many Filipinos rely to the agency in times of medical emergencies.
Malacanang said that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte wants to privatize or to restructure PhilHealth. The Palace assured that the contribution of the people will be kept safe.
Morales resigned from his post amid the investigation over health concerns. Pres. Duterte appointed former National Bureau Chief Dante Gierran to lead PhilHealth. He’s given until December to clean the agency from corruption.
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Recently, the Philippine Red Cross stopped processing the COVID-19 swab tests for the PhilHealth. It is due to the alleged non-payment of the latter that reached P930 million. Sen. Richard Gordon wants it investigated.
Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, the head of the non-government organizations stressed that it must be probed why Red Cross did not pay PhilHealth. The latter is the one responsible for the testing of the overseas Filipino workers, the government frontliners, and the individuals covered by the Department of Health’s guidelines.
“Masyadong abuso de kompyansa eh. Pinagbigyan tapos lalaki nang ganyan kalaki,” the Senator said.
Based on the erprot, the problem between PhilHealth and Red Cross has affected several other government agencies. Currently, the swab test specimens were transferred to bigger laboratories and hospitals in Metro Manila.
Furthermore, the Philippine Coast Guard is processing the swab test documents of the returning OFWs manually as it no longer pass through the computerized system of Red Cross. Meanwhile, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) assured that there will be no backlog.
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