Drilon to COA: Conduct special audit vs PhilHealth

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon. INQUIRER file photo / EDWIN BACASMAS

MANILA, Philippines — Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon has appealed to the Commission on Audit (COA) to undertake a “special audit” on the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) after reports came out concerning its alleged payments of “ghost” dialysis treatments.

“Kung totoong ito ay nangyayari na maraming racket diyan ako ay nanawagan sa [COA] na magkaroon ng special audit itong Philhealth,” Drilon said in an interview over radio station DWIZ on Saturday.

Drilon was referring to an investigative report from the Philippine Daily Inquirer, which disclosed  payments being given to the WellMed Dialysis and Laboratory Center Corporation (WellMed) regarding claims for the treatment sessions of deceased patients.

Edwin Roberto, former employee of the center, told the Inquirer that PhilHealth continued paying but failed to verify if the claims were valid.

READ: PhilHealth pays for ghost kidney treatments

With this, the senator said they would file a resolution asking Senate committee on health and Senate Blue Ribbon committee to investigate officials of PhilHealth when the 18th Congress opens in July.

“Siguro pagbalik ng kongreso sa Hulyo kami po ay magfi-file ng resolution asking the committee on health and blue ribbon committee to look into this detail,” Drilon said. (Editor: Jonathan P. Vicente)

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