Filtered By: Topstories
News

Exec admits PhilHealth IT system not 'fool-proof'


An official of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) on Wednesday admitted that the agency's information technology (IT) system is not absolutely "fool-proof" amid allegations of irregularities within the agency.

During the continuation of the House joint panel inquiry into the alleged PhilHealth anomalies, Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability chair Jonathan Sy-Alvarado asked PhilHealth to categorically state if its IT system is fool-proof.

PhilHealth chief information officer Jovita Aragona initially responded that the agency's IT system is "fool-proof" at the moment based on their data.

Alvarado, however, seemed not convinced by Aragona's response, claiming that findings of the Commission on Audit state otherwise.

After reminding her that she was under oath, Alvarado once again pressed Aragona to state if the PhilHealth's IT system is fool-proof.

"Maaari pa bang maloko ang gobyerno sa sistema ng IT na meron ang PhilHealth ngayong panahong ito?" he asked.

This time, Aragona said: "Maaari din."

Alvarado said that is where he sees a big problem with PhilHealth, especially when it comes to the delivery of important documents from the agency to hospitals.

"Sa laki ng ating bansa, kung tayo ay magsusulatan lamang o magpapadalahan tayo ng mga papeles mula sa iba't ibang ospital papunta sa PhilHealth, ita-type ulit natin, hahanapin natin yung mga peke, mga totoo na claims sa PhilHealth, aabutin tayo ng santo-santo," he said.

"Maraming alegasyon ng katiwalian pagdating sa bagong procurement ng IT system ng PhilHealth. kung may problema doon sa procurement, higpitan natin ang procurement ng PhilHealth. Bantayan natin," he added.

PhilHealth senior vice president Renato Limsiaco agreed that PhilHealth should improve its IT system to make its transactions faster and more transparent.

"Yan din ang ginagawa na plano rin ng ating butihing president and CEO Ricardo Morales," he said.

"Sinasabi niya we need to have a robust system para yung ating membership, ang ating benefits at ating collection ay sama-sama sa isang sistema na mabilis," Limsiaco added. —KBK, GMA News

LOADING CONTENT