PhilHealth pays Red Cross P700M, cuts debt down to less than P4M

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation already paid around P700 million of its debt to Philippine Red Cross, shrinking the balance to P377 million.

PhilHealth spokesperson Rey Baleña on Sunday also told Dobol B sa News TV the agency will be releasing P100 million every week to settle its debt for the COVID-19 tests conducted by the PRC.

“Ang atin pong naibayad na sa kabuuan sa Red Cross ay P700 million. Lalabas po sa huling pronouncement ng Red Cross ang  balanse pa natin ay mga P377 million pa,” Baleña said.

Earlier, the PRC stopped providing COVID-19 swab tests for returning Filipinos as well as in mega swabbing facilities and local government units due to PhilHealth's over P930-million debt.

Baleña thanked the PRC for resuming its COVID testing operations after PhilHealth initially paid a partial amount of P500 million on October 27.

PRC chairperson Senator Richard Gordon pointed out that their available funds for COVID testing are disposed very fast as they process thousands of samples.

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

The PRC conducts 30% of the total COVID-19 tests performed nationwide. —LBG, GMA News