Cancer of the system
Ghosting seems to be the favorite word nowadays, with news of “ghost dialysis” erupting in June, an alleged love triangle that began with someone “ghosting” another and now, here we are during “Ghost Month,” talking about the spirit of corruption haunting us all.
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) controversy has had us wrapped up in recent weeks, asking ourselves how it became possible for a health care agency to have allegedly fleeced government of billions of pesos in anomalous transactions.
As Sen. Franklin Drilon pointed out recently, “It involves billions of pesos of public money. The government provides subsidy to PhilHealth to cover for the medical expenses of the poor and informal sector, which amounts to P257 billion next year and P319 billion by
2024 due to the implementation of the
Universal Health Care Act.”
PhilHealth, facing public scrutiny to the highest level, last week made a statement acknowledging “Atty. Harry
Roque’s concern for the welfare of PhilHealth and the National Health Insurance Program.”
Last June, the former Palace spokesman had helped whistleblowers expose an alleged ghost dialysis insurance claim scam linking a dialysis center and the government health insurance agency.
It said: “PhilHealth has been quietly conducting an internal probe of all irregularities brought to its attention in coordination with the National Bureau of Investigation” and promised to release the results from its own investigation.
It then asked that the well-meaning lawyer supply the facts and present them in the proper forum.
The case against WellMed Dialysis Center, firstly, was dismissed early this month for lack of jurisdiction of the court in which the case was filed.
While the ruling did not determine the guilt or innocence of the accused, it did put a delaying kink on the case and got this kibitzer thinking how unfortunate it is that we have some people acting on concerns about corruption, yet legal details somehow put a dent on such intentions.
This, then, set me wondering about how often and how long our laws have been used or misused, causing the disease of corruption to spread.
I am not saying that our laws are not enough — in fact, some say we have an overabundance of them. But how well do our authorities really know them, and how well are those who are able to circumvent them able to skip notice before they are caught?
Lately, the PhilHealth board is being asked to explain a number of findings as revealed in the Senate investigation that followed the brouhaha over WellMed and alleged claims for dead patients.
Many would like to uncover the whole truth so that those accountable can be meted the proper justice.
The investigation so far has yielded the disturbing knowledge that the health care industry is diseased.
Citing “defective” policies that caused losses for PhilHealth, Sen.
Ping Lacson noted that the board also
“controls most of the fund transfers,” as well as being “in charge of investigating erring health care institutions and providers.”
One may assume, then, that it is either extreme ignorance or abject negligence that have allowed dastardly schemes to flourish in said agency. That, or the unthinkable possibility of collusion to defraud the people of the Philippines.
Higher-ups in the PhilHealth organization are being tagged for involvement in allegedly questionable activities.
For their part, they are pointing to several regional vice presidents as part of a supposed “’mafia’ that helped hospitals defraud the agency,” a report goes, and it all amounts to astounding billions!
It is fast becoming whorled as the issue goes deeper, and meanwhile, we are contemplating the news that two Cabinet men are being investigated as well for alleged corruption.
Then, of course, there is the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) still investigating 15 Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office officials following Duterte’s suspension of all PCSO-regulated games, except for lotto, “due to alleged corruption by PCSO officials and gaming operators.”
It is a busy time for the PACC, which is subjecting some 200 government officials to lifestyle checks, “including those from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Public Works and Highways and Bureau of Internal Revenue — the three government agencies that have been the subject of the most number of corruption complaints filed before the PACC.”
Imagine the breadth and scope of this disease — the cancer that has slowed down our nation, weakening and almost killing it even as the siphoning of the people’s blood, sweat and tears continues to this day.
“I
am not saying that our laws are not enough — in fact, some say we have an overabundance of them. But how well do our authorities really know them?
“It
is a busy time for the Philippine Anti-Corruption Commission, which is subjecting some 200 government officials to lifestyle checks.