PhilHealth chief Gierran not in favor of privatizing state insurer

Saying it would send the "wrong signal" to the people, newly installed PhilHealth President and CEO Dante Gierran on Thursday expressed opposition to the proposal to privatize the state health insurer.

At a hearing at the House of Representatives, Gierran said putting PhilHealth under private hands might give an impression that government officials cannot be trusted in managing the agency.

No less than President Rodrigo Duterte had proposed to privatize Philhealth.

At the hearing, Gierran was asked about his thoughts on the privatization of PhilHealth. In response, he said privatizing the state health insurer will send a "wrong signal" on the part of government officials.

"Are we telling the people of the Philippines and the world na ang mga tao lang sa pribado ang marunong magtrabaho nang tama? Hindi marunong ang mga taga-gobyerno tulad natin?" he said.

"Wow, hindi maganda yan. It will send a wrong signal to our people that people in the government cannot be trusted," Geirran, who was appointed to PhilHealth in August, added.

Gierran, a former National Bureau of Investigation director, replaced Ricardo Morales, who resigned over health reasons at a time when PhilHealth was under investigation by Congress and a government task force for alleged anomalies.

At the same time, Gierran said that the privatization might also not be favorable for the members of the state health insurer.

"We respect the wisdom of the President. But kung i-privatize ang PhilHealth, ano ang mangyari sa ating mga miyembro? Saan pupunta itong mga miyembro natin?" Gierran said.

"Sa PhilHealth, meron tayong tinatawag na outright membership. Kahit hindi ka miyembro kapag pumunta ka sa ospital, member ka kaagad. And then outright eligibility. Saan natin kukunin ito kapag i-privatize natin ito?" he added.

Although Sotto earlier said Duterte had considered to privatize PhilHealth, the President said on Monday that he would propose to Congress to just abolish it amid allegations of widespread corruption.

“Itong PhilHealth, I am going to propose to Congress to abolish the— Kung i-privatize mo naman, susmaryosep, walang pera. Sinong insurer niyo? Sabihin ng mga kapitalista sa insurance, ‘kami ang magbayad? Wala kayong pondo,’” he said in a televised address.

Duterte cited the lack of funds as reason the Philippines has been selling properties to Japan.

“That’s the reason why we are selling properties, real estate properties in Japan because we have to raise money. Wala nang pambayad diyan sa PhilHealth na ‘yan kaya walang ibang remedy diyan, it must be a surgical move,” he said.

PhilHealth has since said its abolition will be a big loss to the Filipino people. —KBK, GMA News