Amid graft allegations, Go says PhilHealth execs agreed to set aside differences

In a meeting attended by Senator Bong Go, officials of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth)agreed to set aside their differences and work for the implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) law even as corruption allegations continue to hound the state health insurance agency.

Go said in a statement that he attended the meeting with PhilHealth executives and finance officials on Wednesday to discuss how to make PhilHealth more responsive to the needs of the people amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Kaya kami nakipagpulong kasama ang mga government finance managers upang matugunan ang mga hinaharap na suliranin ng PhilHealth para maimplementa ng maayos ang UHC law lalo na’t may krisis tayong hinaharap," Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on health and co-chairperson of the joint congressional oversight committee on UHC law.

"Isa rin sa napag-usapan sa meeting ay ang mga problema sa PhilHealth management at ang mga akusasyon ng korapsyon na nangyayari. . . .Naging mainit ang usapan, nagkahamunan pa ng resignation, pero civil at productive pa rin naman ang diskusyon," the senator said, confirming earlier reports of intense discussions among the PhilHealth execs delving on corruption allegations.

Go said Undersecretary Melchor Quitain was also in the meeting.  Quitain, who is from the Office of the Special Assistant to the President,  is spearheading an investigation launched after PhilHeath's anti-fraud officer Thorrsson Montes Keith tendered his resignation over the agency's alleged overpriced purchase of IT system worth over P2 billion. 

"Natapos ang meeting with an agreement na sa panahon ngayon ay isasantabi muna ang mga personal na hidwaan upang mabigyang importansya ang kapakanan, interes at buhay ng mga Pilipino," Go said.

"Uunahin muna ngayon kung paano masigurong maiimplementa ang UHC Law, mapopondohan ang mga programang pangkalusugan, at mapagseserbisyuhan ang mga nangangailangan sa panahon ng pandemya," he added.

Go said the Department of Finance, Department of Budget and Management and PHhilHeath will work together to determine possible sources of funding for UHC law.

The DOF will also look into the funding requirements of PhilHealth's controversial IT project, Go said.

"Sinasabi rin ng Philhealth na kaya importante ang budget sa IT kasi kailangan ayusin ang data management ng ahensya upang maiwasan ang korapsyon. Inaalam rin ng DOF kung magkano ba talaga ang kailangang pondo para maisaayos ang lahat na ito," he added. —Dona Magsino/LDF, GMA News