Update on PhilHealth, Red Cross Issue Over COVID-19 Testing Debts
PHILHEALTH – The state-run health insurance agency paid the Philippine Red Cross P100-million more over its debts for COVID-19 testing.
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and the Philippine Red Cross were recently hooked in an issue. These state-run agencies are both important in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Philippines is one of the over 200 countries and territories hit by the pandemic. Currently, the entire nation is still under community quarantine measures in the efforts to curb the spread of the disease.
Every Monday, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte speaks to the national through a televised address with regards to updates on the fight against the pandemic.
The President’s address for this week was moved due to the recent typhoon that entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). In his recent address, he slammed Red Cross.
The President tagged the agency as “mukhang pera” after it stopped the COVID-19 testing following the P1.1 billion debts of the latter. The President has previously expressed that he will find money to pay for the said debt.
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The Philippine Health Insurance Agency previously made an initial payment of Php 500 million to Red Cross. It failed to cope with the set date but made the half a billion initial payment a day after.
Recently, PhilHealth paid Red Cross Php 100 million more for its debts to the latter. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, PhilHealth spokesperson Rey Baleña said that their balance is around Php 377 million.
He also said that they are fast-tracking validations to keep up with the releases. Red Cross has already resumed the COVID-19 testing for the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and everyone covered by the guidelines.
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