PhilHealth exec admits IT system not yet absolutely ‘foolproof’

MANILA, Philippines — An officer of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) admitted Wednesday that its information technology system for benefit claims is not yet absolutely foolproof.

During the joint hybrid hearing of the House committee on government and public accountability and the committee on public accounts, Bulacan 1st District Rep. Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado pointed out that PhilHealth still has pending unpaid fees to various government hospitals within and outside Metro Manila.

Sy-Alvarado then asked PhilHealth if its system is already computerized.

PhilHealth chief information officer Jovita Aragona initially said that its system is “foolproof” at the moment based on their data.

But Sy-Alvarado reminded Aragona that she is under oath and may face charges if it is proven that there are anomalies within PhilHealth, saying that reports from the Commission on Audit (COA) do not align with their pronouncements.

The lawmaker once again asked if the government can be fooled through PHilHealth’s IT system to which Aragona responded: “Maaari din po.”

According to Alvarado, PhilHealth still owes the Philippine Heart Center a total of P322 million, East Avenue Medical Center at P90 million, Philippine Children’s Medical Center at P72 million, and Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional in Bacolod at P134.6 million.

“Marami sa ating mga government hospital kailangan ng saklolo ng PhilHealth ngayong panahong ito. Kaya Mr. Chairman, napakasakit na may overpayments sa sindikato pero yung legal na dapat bayaran para sa mamamayang Pilipino, hindi nababayaran,” Sy-Alvarado said.

JE