PhilHealth worried over impact of charges vs execs

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. yesterday expressed deep concern over the possible negative impact of the filing of graft charges against its officials on PhilHealth employees.         

“We are cautious on its implications on our workforce,” PhilHealth said in a statement in reaction to the charges filed against officials allegedly involved in the WellMed Dialysis scam.         

Although it said that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) exerted diligence in investigating the irregularity and in protecting the rights of officials, the complaints might also pose adverse effects on the employees.         

PhilHealth assured the public that it would monitor development concerning the case and cooperate with the investigation.        

The NBI earlier filed criminal charges against 21 PhilHealth officials accused of involvement in the multimillion-peso scam.         

Health Secretary Francisco Duque said they would fast-track the completion of PhilHealth’s information technology (IT) reforms to prevent fraudulent claims and other forms of cybercrime.         

He said the reforms are critical in the efforts to stop fraudulent claims and to ensure that the PhilHealth data are secured.

Meanwhile, former presidential spokesman Harry Roque yesterday charged 11 current and former PhilHealth board members with graft, usurpation of judicial functions, grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, grave abuse of discretion, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service before the Office of the Ombudsman.

The complaint stemmed from a 2011 case where the officers allegedly favored a private hospital in Cebu City.

Included in the complaint were former acting PhilHealth president and chief executive officer Roy Ferrer, Health Assistant Secretary Charade Grande, National Anti-Poverty Commission vice chairperson Ruperto Aleroza, and corporate secretaries Jonathan Mangaoang and Lora Mangasar. Current and former board members Celestina Serna, Eddie Dorotan, Joan Lareza, Hilderades Dineros, Roberto Salvador Jr. and Anthony Leachon were also included. 

The Perpetual Succour Hospital of Cebu, owned by the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres, was also included in the administrative and criminal complaints.

Identifying himself as one of the principal authors of the Universal Healthcare Act, Roque said the charges stem from a 2011 case of the Cebu City-based medical institution which was probed for unjustified extension of stay or confinement of two patients despite a “go home order” issued by their respective doctors. 

Duque said he respects Roque’s move, adding that “it is well within their right to file cases.”

He urged current PhilHealth president and CEO Ricardo Morales to “intensify efforts to reduce corruption within the organization.”

The complaint narrated that in March 2015, the PhilHealth Board found Perpetual Succour guilty and imposed upon it the penalty of three months suspension and a fine of P10,000. 

Roque said the decision was affirmed by the Court of Appeals in October 2017, which also denied the appeal filed by the hospital in March 2018.– With Michael Punongbayan