Lawmakers on Thursday, October 1, warned that poor Filipinos will suffer should the embattled Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) be abolished.

During a House briefing on the Task Force on PhilHealth report, Marikina City Representative Stella Quimbo, an economist, raised concerns over the proposal to abolish the state health insurer.

“Ang epekto po niyan ay sa poverty. Sa aking estimate po, kung ma-abolish ang PhilHealth nang dahil sa fraud na hindi na natin ma-control, dadagag ang ating poor individuals na halos 20 million po,” Quimbo said, adding that when Filipinos face “big hospital charges,” they could become poor easily.

(The effect will be on poverty. In my estimate, if PhilHealth will be abolished due to fraud that we could not control, it would affect 20 million poorFilipinos.)

Cavite Representative Boying Remulla shared the same concerns, saying that PhilHealth should not be abolished just because there are alleged corrupt people in the agency.

Remulla did not mince words against Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, PhilHealth chairman, who has been shielded by no less than President Rodrigo Duterte amid the corruption mess at the state health insurer. (READ: The survivor: Francisco Duque III)

“We know the fondness of the President for Dr Duque, but we have to save the President from that fondness, if we have to. And the healthcare system. It’s not about Dr Duque, but the healthcare system,” Remulla said.

In a pre-recorded public address aired on Monday, September 28, Duterte said that he would propose to Congress to abolish PhilHealth.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III also earlier said that the President wanted PhilHealth to be privatized amid allegations of corruption within the agency.

PhilHealth privatization may send ‘wrong signal’

During Thursday’s briefing, newly-apponited PhilHealth chief Dante Gierran said that privatizing the state health insurer might send a “wrong signal” to the public that the government cannot be trusted.

“Kapag i-privatize natin, ano ang mangyari sa atin sa gobyerno (If we privatize PhilHealth, what will happen to us in government)? 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 (that only people in the private sector know how to do the job right? That people in government are not capable)?” Gierran said.

Gierran’s appointment drew criticism after he admitted knowing nothing about public health and the operations in PhilHealth, though he added that he is well versed in financial management, the law, insurance, and investigation. (READ: ‘I don’t know about public health,’ admits incoming PhilHealth chief)

Banking on the support he’s getting from Duterte and Senator Bong Go, Gierran vowed to end corruption at the state health insurer. (READ: ‘Sigurado ‘yan’: Incoming PhilHealth chief vows to end corruption in agency in 2 years)

Meanwhile, workers union PhilHealth Workers for Hope, Integrity, Transparency, and Empowerment (WHITE) said in an earlier statement that abolition or privatization of the state health insurer “places Filipinos at a clear disadvantage.”

“Let us give the new PhilHealth chief Atty Dante Gierran sufficient time to study and appreciate the value of the National Health Insurance Program. Giving up PhilHealth is analogous to giving up on the Filipino people,” PhilHealth WHITE said.

In August, lawmakers investigated PhilHealth for alleged corruption as whistleblowers said some P15 billion ($309.6 million) in funds were pocketed by its executives.

The PhilHealth anomalies have fueled anger against the government at a time when the Philippines has the highest number of coronavirus cases in Southeast Asia. – Rappler.com