PALACE OFFICIAL SUGGESTS NEW TACK IN RESOLVING PHILHEALTH ANOMALIES

A MALACAÑANG official on Friday proposed extending “amnesty” to medical facilities and health-care workers, who may be involved in corrupt practices with the Philippine health Insurance Corp. (Philhealth).

In a radio interview, Presidential spokesman harry Roque said this will encourage them to testify against Philhealth officials and personnel who are engaged in illegal activities.

he noted some doctors and hospitals owners merely agree to such activities so they could collect their payments from Philhealth.

“I believe in the honesty of hospital owners and doctors. If we will give them amnesty, we will know who gets a percentage [of the collection from Philhealth]. It may not just be amnesty but immunity. I believe they will speak out and we will see who are responsible [for the said irregularities in Philhealth],” Roque said. Some Philhealth officials are being investigated by the Senate, house of Representatives and an inter-agency task force led by the Department of Justice due to the alleged anomalies in the state health insurer.

Based on initial findings, Philhealth allegedly purchased overpriced information-technology (IT) hardware, as well as questionable implementation of its Interim Reimbursement Mechanism among others.

Roque said these violations could be prevented by automating the transactions in Philhealth.

While he is opposing the proposal to privatize Philhealth, Roque pointed out its IT functions can be handled by a private company to make it more efficient.

“The administration is open [to the possibility] of...some functions [of Philhealth being] privatized,” Roque said.