Hospitals group want Duterte to fire Duque from DOH, PhilHealth

The Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PHAPi) on Monday urged President Rodrigo Duterte to fire Secretary Francisco Duque III from the Department of Health (DOH) and as chairperson of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).

PHAPi President Rustico Jimenez appealed for Duterte to replace Duque with “someone who can deliver the goods better in addressing the health concerns of the country” amid the issues hounding the DOH’s coronavirus response and the COVID-19 testing packages of PhilHealth.

“We have high regard for him as one among our esteemed colleagues in the healthcare industry but he seems to be already so exhausted that there is need for a fresh blood and a fresh mind to lead the DOH and the PhilHealth,” Jimenez said in a letter to Duterte.

Jimenez also said that some of PHAPi’s 744 members were “given the runaround” by PhilHealth over the Interim Reimbursement Mechanism (IRM).

“Although some have already received their share, most however are now so financially drained as they are still waiting for the promised IRM,” he said.

Duque earlier came under fire after he said that the country was already in the second wave of COVID-19 infections. 

The DOH was also urged to review the “overpriced” 8,150-peso COVID-19 testing package of PhilHealth. 

Sought for comment, Duque said, “We all serve at the pleasure of the president.” 

Malacañang earlier said that any Cabinet member could be removed by Duterte at any time. -NB, GMA News