B. Braun Avitum vows cooperation with gov't after being linked to PhilHealth's IRM releases

B. Braun Avitum Philippines Inc., the dialysis provider that has been repeatedly mentioned during the Senate hearings on alleged irregularities in PhilHealth's cash advances to health care institutions, on Thursday committed to cooperate with the government for transparency.

"We are one with the government in its quest for transparency and good governance, and will extend full cooperation in this endeavor," B. Braun Avitum said in a press statement.

Admitting that it received releases from PhilHealth through the Interim Reimbursement Mechanism (IRM), B. Braun Avitum said the fund has enabled it to continue providing quality renal services to dialysis patients amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Such treatment must not be interrupted despite the coronavirus situation, as our patients' lives will be compromised. Together with all other HCIs who have and are receiving IRM funds, B. Braun Avitum is deeply appreciative of the IRM funds received from PhilHealth," the company said.

The IRM refers to PhilHealth's cash advances to health care institutions affected by natural disasters, calamities, and other fortuitous events.

Its implementation during the pandemic has been heavily questioned as dialysis centers and maternity clinics have apparently been prioritized, in terms of releases, compared to hospitals that are actually handling COVID-19 cases.

In a previous Senate hearing, Senator Panfilo Lacson said B. Braun Avitum received over P45.176 million from April 23 to May 5, while the Ospital ng Maynila has yet to receive P19.382 million.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III also ordered the Secretariat to find the owner of B Braun Avitum after Lacson presented a document indicating that it was allegedly the same health care institution involved in the P9.7 million that was wrongly miscredited to Balanga Rural Bank in Bataan in May 2019.

On Wednesday, Lacson said the Senate will ask the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) if it can help in tracking down the owner of the dialysis center in question.

In a statement, the company said it registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 11, 1985 as B. Braun Medical Supplies, Inc. and that B. Braun Avitum is a wholly-owned subsidiary.

The dialysis services provider was "originally incorporated as Philippine Renal Care, Inc. on 24th January 2002 (Company Registration Number A200201223) and later renamed as B. Braun Avitum Philippines, Inc.," the statement read.

B. Braun Avitum said it owns and manages 25 dialysis centers across Luzon to treat patients requiring renal care, serving the Filipino people for over three decades now.—AOL, GMA News