PhilHealth pays P100-M more of P1-B debt to Red Cross

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) on Thursday released P100 million to the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) as partial payment of its almost P1 billion debt  for the organization’s coronavirus disease (COVID-19) tests.

“PhilHealth releases another P 100,003,015 to Philippine Red Cross today; fast-tracks validation of claims to reimburse COVID-19 tests done by the PRC in support of the Government’s campaign to curb the effect of pandemic particularly to OFWs,” PhilHealth said in a statement.

The amount is the second tranche of payment posted by Philhealth. On October 27, PhilHealth released P500 million as partial payment to the PRC.

The PRC earlier stopped conducting COVID-19 swab tests on returning Filipinos, mega swabbing facilities, and local government units—tests funded by PhilHealth—due to the agency’s over P930-million debt.

After the first payment, the humanitarian organization resumed its operations.

Philippine Red Cross chairman Senator Richard Gordon said PhilHealth should pay its outstanding balance of over P561 million to the Philippine Red Cross within three days.

Gordon pointed out that their available funds for COVID-19 testing are disposed very fast as they process thousands of samples.

He said the PhilHealth's debt will pile up once again if the state health insurer would not settle the remaining balance as soon as possible.

It can be recalled that the PRC conducts 30% of the total COVID-19 tests performed nationwide.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, the Philippines has reported 389,725 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 349,543 recoveries and 7,409 fatalities. -- BAP, GMA News