Former presidential spokesman Harry Roque (right) calls for the suspension of the Universal Health Care Law’s implementation as PhilHealth has been allegedly paying “ghost” dialysis treatments. With him during the press conference in Quezon City on Thursday, June 6, 2019, is Edwin Roberto (left), who exposed the alleged controversial practice. Photo by Cathrine Gonzales / INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Lawyer Harry Roque on Thursday called for the suspension of the Universal Health Care Law’s implementation amid allegations that the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or PhilHealth was allegedly funding “ghost” dialysis treatments.
“Kung kailangan siguro, isuspinde muna natin hanggang hindi natin nalilinis ang PhilHealth, kaysa mawala ‘yung pera sa mga korap. Isuspinde muna natin iyan at linisin natin. Kapag malinis na, ‘tsaka natin gastusin ang pera,” Roque said in a press conference at his residence in Quezon City.
(If necessary, let us suspend it first until we finish cleaning PhilHealth, instead of losing the money to the corrupt. Let’s suspend it for now and clean [the agency]. When it’s already clean, then we spend the funds.)
An Inquirer report on Thursday exposed that PhilHealth has been allegedly paying kidney treatments for patients who already passed away since WellMed Dialysis & Laboratory Center Corp. continued filing for dialysis sessions on the patient’s behalf.
READ: PhilHealth pays for ghost kidney treatments
The former Kabayan party-list representative, who was among the sponsors of the universal health care bill in Congress, expressed distrust that the billions of pesos for free healthcare might only line the pockets of PhilHealth officials.
“Baka naman yung bilyun-bilyong ibubuhos natin para sa libreng pagamot na idadaan natin sa PhilHealth ay pumunta lang sa mga bulsa ng mga baboy na kurakot dyan sa PhilHealth,” he said.
(Maybe the billions worth of pesos allocated for free medical care that will be channeled through PhilHealth will just go to the pockets of corrupt pigs in PhilHealth.)
He stressed a “thorough cleanup” within the agency is appropriate. But this purge, he claimed, could not be accomplished by PhilHealth Acting President and Chief Executive Officer Roy Ferrer. (Editor: Katherine G. Adraneda)