Palace: Gov’t won’t allow PhilHealth to go bankrupt

MANILA, Philippines — The national government will not allow the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to go bankrupt despite the warning that it may collapse by 2022, Malacañang said Friday.

An official of PhilHealth warned that the agency may no longer be able to sustain operations due to decreased collections and increased payouts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Bilang pangunahing awtor po sa mababang kapulungan ng Universal Healthcare, hindi po mangyayari yan. Eventually, PhilHealth is guaranteed by the government,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in an online briefing when sought for a reaction.

(As the principal author of the Universal Healthcare in the Lower House, that will not happen. Eventually, PhilHealth is guaranteed by the government.)

“Kung hindi po sapat, gobyerno po talaga ang magdadagdag ng budget sa PhilHealth galing po sa kaban ng taumbayan,” he added.

(If it is not enough, the government will increase PhilHealth’s budget.)

PhilHealth is under scrutiny over allegations of corruption within the agency including overpriced information technology equipment, manipulation of the state insurer’s financial status, among others.

President Rodrigo Duterte already ordered the Department of Justice to create a task force that would probe the alleged irregularities.

“Bagamat ang kinakailangan po natin dyan sa PhilHealth ay mga taong nangangalaga ng mabuti sa pera ng kaban ng bayan lalong lalo na yung kontribusyon ng mga myembro nya at yung subsidy na binibigay ng national government, hindi po natin papayagan na mabangkarote ang PhilHealth kahit ano po ang mangyari,” Roque said.

(Although PhilHealth needs people who will take care of the people’s funds, especially the contribution of its members and the national government’s subsidy, we will not allow PhilHealth to go bankrupt no matter what happens.)

/MUF