Morales to Gierran: PhilHealth stint is a learning experience

A stint at the Philippine Health Insurance Company as president and chief executive officer is a learning experience, resigned PhilHealth chief Ricardo Morales said Tuesday.

Morales, in an ANC interview, gave the advice less than a day after former National Bureau of Investigation director Dante Gierran was named new PhilHealth chief by President Rodrigo Duterte.

“It is going to be a learning experience. He should know the company, know the history. He will be sitting at the driver’s seat, the technical knowledge will be provided by the staff and consultant,” Morales, a retired soldier, said.

“His worry will be navigating the organization. There are plans laid out, he can review this and find if it is acceptable to him,” he added.

Morales, who has cited health reasons for resigning, then advised his successor to stay healthy and offered him help.

“Stay healthy. Of course, I will be available [to him], I will be at his disposal,” he said.

Morales resigned as himself and other members of the PhilHealth board were accused by their colleagues of corruption thru advance payment to hospitals and healthcare facilities, including those not dealing with COVID-19 patients under Internal Reimbursement Mechanism (IRM), overpriced IT project, and paying withholding tax using PhilHealth’s operating fund, among others.

The PhilHealth fund mess is under probe by Congress and the Justice department.—AOL, GMA News