PhilHealth asks members to keep paying contributions

An official of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) on Thursday asked members to continue paying contributions amid the allegations of corruption within the agency.

In an interview on Dobol B sa News TV, Senior Manager Rey Baleña asked the public to continue supporting the agency, saying that the challenges it was currently facing would lead it to become better.

“Kung dumaraan man ‘yung programa sa ganitong pag-uusba o pagsubok ay ito po ay sa ikagaganda. Asahan po natin ang lahat ng ito ay sa ikagaganda. ‘Yun po ang dulo ng lahat ng ito,” he said.

The agency has been under multiple investigations over an alleged overpriced information technology system as well as overpayments of reimbursements to hospitals, among others.

Baleña said that they were aware some PhilHealth members were uncertain about paying.

“Kasi nga po nakapahalaga ng kontribusyon ng miyembro dahil kung hindi naman tayo magbabayad, mapipilay rin ang ating programa, babalik din po sa atin ‘yun,” Baleña said.

“In fact, under the Universal Health Care law, tinukoy na ‘yung kontribusyon ng mga miyembro ang isa sa mga pangunahing tutustos sa programa. Kaya nanawagan tayo sa mga kababayan natin na maging positibo ho tayo,” he added.

The senior manager also said that the issues concerning the agency were personal for the employees, adding that they have read criticisms from individuals on social media.

“At kapag nababasa namin ‘yung mga komento, mga bashing no sa social media ay syempre masakit din po sa amin dahil personal na po ito sa amin. Marami po sa amin dito 20, 22 years na na naglilingkod kaya ito ay very personal na sa atin,” Baleña said.

According to Baleña, most of the agency's employees also want to find out the truth. They are also hoping that innocent personnel will not become collateral damage.

“In fact, kabuuan po ng PhilHealth, kami po lahat ay gusto rin namin ng katotohanan so gusto rin namin malaman ang totoo. At umaasa kami after ng mga imbestigasyon na ito ay maparusahan talaga kung sino ang nagkasala sa hanay namin at ‘yung inosente, ‘wag po madamay,” he said.

PhilHealth and its officials are under investigation over the agency’s alleged overpriced purchase of an information technology system worth over P2 billion.

In previous hearings, resigned anti-fraud officer Thorsson Montes Keith claimed that the PhilHealth “mafia” stole some P15 billion through several fraudulent schemes.

Despite the issues, Baleña said that the state insurer's operations will continue.

“Gayun pa man ay dire-diretsyo po ang ating pag-seserbisyo. Sabi nga natin kahit na may pandemya pa… may kasalukuyang mga kotrobersya… ay dire-diretsyo po ang ating pag lilingkot at ang magandang assurance sa mga miyembro, dire-diretsyo po ang pag a-avail nila ng benefits,” he said. — Joahna Lei Casilao/BM, GMA News