Is Philhealth going bankrupt?

IS the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (Philhealth) having financial woes? I pose this question following reports that the stateowned medical insurance agency is having difficulties settling its financial obligations to accredited hospitals and service providers both in the government and in the private sector.

Philhealth members are given benefits once admitted in the agency’s accredited hospitals. The agency will shoulder part of the hospital bill with some conditions. I was informed that the agency has a P300-million plus obligation to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) and to some private hospitals. How can a private medical center sustain its operations if Philhealth can’t immediately make its payments.

I am totally confused about the agency’s financial status. It cannot immediately pay its financial obligations to partner-medical institutions and service providers, but it can give fat and hefty allowances and benefits to its officials and employees. Recently, the Commission on Audit (COA) questioned its releasing of birthday and Christmas bonuses to its officials and employees that amounted to the millions.

I obtained a copy of the official complaint from Jonathan King, managing director of Nephro Specialist of Cebu, a diagnostic center, addressed to Philhealth 7 Director William Chavez, to complain about the “super delay” in the release of their claims.