Abolish PhilHealth? 'Napakalaking kawalan,' says spox

PhilHealth spokesperson Rey Baleña on Friday said the millions of Filipino people will bear the brunt should the state health insurer be abolished amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Nirerespeto po natin ang views, ang pananaw po ng ating  Pangulo pagdating sa bagay na 'yan pero siyempre po kung mawawala po ang PhilHealth ay napakalaki po ng magiging epekto nito sa ating bayan," Baleña said in a Laging Handa briefing.

"Napakagandang programa po ng National Health Insurance Program at taun-taon po milyun-milyong Filipino po ang natutulungan po nito kaya napakalaking kawalan po kung mawawala ang PhilHealth. Kailangang kailangan po ito lalo na po sa ganitong panahon ng pandemya," he added.

President Rodrigo Duterte wanted to abolish or privatize PhilHealth as it sits on a muddle of alleged irregularities, Senate President Vicente Sotto said.

But Sotto told Duterte "it might be better to wait a few months and see how the new admin performs."

Last month, whistleblowers claimed that the so-called PhilHealth mafia, allegedly composed of the executive committee, was able to pocket P15 billion worth of funds from the state insurer—an allegation denied by the agency.

Its former chief Ricardo Morales and several other executives were recommended to be charged with cases over the alleged irregularities that had been investigated by the Department of Justice-led task force.

Newly installed PhilHealth chief Dante Gierran, a former director at the National Bureau of Investigation, was given until December to "clean up the organization" but the Palace clarified it does not mean his term will end soon.

Baleña said Gierran has the full support of the PhilHealth workforce.

"100% ang suporta at kooperasyon ang amin pong ibibigay kay President and CEO Dante Gierran. Kahit sino naman po ang umuupo at nagging leader dito sa PhilHealth, laging iyon naman po ang aming ibinibigay. Isandaang porsyentong suporta at kooprasyon sa anumang reporma na kanilang pong ipapatupad sa PhilHealth," he said.

PhilHealth was created in 1995 to implement universal health coverage in the country. As a government-owned and controlled corporation, PhilHealth is tax-exempt and attached to the Department of Health.

Under the Universal Health Care Act of 2018, all Filipino citizens must be automatically included in the National Health Insurance Program either as direct or indirect contributors.—AOL, GMA News