P141 million remitted to Red Cross for COVID-19 testing —PhilHeath

The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) on Wednesday said it has already remitted some P141 million to the Philippine Red Cross to finance the testing for the coronavirus disease, but the organization said the government still owes it some P18 million.

According to PhilHealth president Ricardo Morales, the state insurer turned over the amount in two batches -- P100 million for the initial batch and P41 million for the second.

"PhilHealth will provide funds so that Red Cross will conduct testing procedures with enough capacity to meet the demands of the testing," he said in a Senate hearing.

Under an agreement, the Philippine Red Cross will conduct COVID-19 tests on PhilHealth members, which will be paid out by the state insurer at P3,500 per test.

Those qualified to avail of the PhilHealth sponsored testing are critical or severe cases under subgroup A; mild cases but not vulnerable under subgroup B; mild cases not vulnerable under subgroup C; and those asymptomatic with close contact or history of travel under subgroup D.

Morales said those who do not fit into any of the four subgroups will have to pay for their own tests.

Once the amount runs out, Morales said it will replenish the funds paid out to the Philippine Red Cross.

For his part, Philippine Red Cross chairman and chief executive officer Richard Gordon said that the organization has yet to receive full payment for the services rendered.

"Sa madaling sabi, ang na-test na namin ay P159,915,000. Ibig sabihin, napangunahan na namin at hindi pa kami bayad dito sa P18,874,000. Nakaabono tayo diyan," he said.

"Hindi naman kami nagmamadali, pero kung papalitan natin 'yung mga swab at magpapadala pa tayo sa ibang mga lugar ng mga tinatawag nating test centers, hanggang Zamboanga hanggang sa mga nawala dito sa Pasay, magdadagdag tayo at tsaka sa Quezon City, eh titigil 'yan," Gordon added. —LDF, GMA News