Lacson eyes probe into PhilHealth’s ‘favoritism’ to dialysis firm
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Panfilo Lacson is considering to file a resolution to investigate the alleged “favoritism” of Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) towards a dialysis company if the task force led by the Department of Justice (DOJ) would not recommend sanctions over the matter.
“I’d like to see the recommendation of the DOJ-led task force. Kung wala roon I think I should pass a separate resolution calling for an inquiry on B Braun-related anomalies,” Lacson told reporters in an online interview on Monday.
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier ordered the DOJ to form a task force to investigate fresh allegations of corruption within the state insurance company.
During the investigation of the Senate Committee of the Whole, Lacson and other senators questioned the swift release of P45 million in cash advances to B. Braun Avitum through PhilHealth’s interim reimbursement mechanism (IRM), which were specifically allocated for hospitals treating COVID-19 patients.
B. Braun Avitum was also linked P9.7 million wrongly credited by some PhilHealth regional officials to a rural bank in Bataan.
Further, Lacson also raised the possibility of “ghost dialysis machines” in some of the branches of B. Braun Avitum.
Article continues after this advertisementThe dialysis company has since denied these allegations, saying that it holds itself “strictly to the highest standards of integrity in all its business dealings.”
Article continues after this advertisementAccording to Lacson, the inquiry would not be intended to go after the dialysis firm but to expose officials who are responsible for allegedly favoring certain health institutions.
“Not necessarily to go after B Braun but to go after those responsible at PhilHealth bakit may favoritism. Kasi obvious naman ang favoritism at saka masyadong discriminatory. Aside from klarong violation ng batas kasi hindi intended ang pera ng PhilHealth para sa dialysis under IRM,” the senator said.
“Kung di masasama [sa recommendations ng DOJ-led task force], I think I should file a separate resolution to get to the bottom of the Balanga account, tapos ang dialysis center na pati ang session-to-capacity ratio na sobra-sobra. Kailangan may talagang special inquiry along that line,” he added.
The Senate Committee of the Whole is set to release its findings on Tuesday on the alleged corruption hounding PhilHealth.
The panel conducted three hearings into the matter, which all lasted for nearly 10-hours.
The DOJ will be furnished with the Senate’s probe findings, Lacson said.
“Sabi naman nila seriously iko-consider nila lahat ang input na naprovide, documentary and testimonial evidence, lahat na nakuha namin sa mga Senate hearings nasa DOJ-led task force,” he added.
Aside from the Senate and the DOJ-led task force, PhilHealth is also facing separate investigations by the House of Representatives and the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission.
