Abolition of PhilHealth opposed

MANILA, Philippines  — Workers of Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) on Sunday opposed President Rodrigo Duterte’s idea of abolishing or privatizing the agency amid allegations of corruption that lawmakers said had been going on in the state health insurer for decades.

The PhilHealth Workers for Hope, Integrity, Transparency and Empowerment also appealed for support for the new PhilHealth president and CEO, lawyer Dante Gierran, who replaced former PhilHealth chief Ricardo Morales.

“[A]bolition or privatization of PhilHealth both places the Filipino people at a clear disadvantage. It is like a government turning away from its constitutional responsibility to protect general welfare,” the group said in a statement.

“Let us give the new PCEO Atty. Dante Gierran sufficient time to study and appreciate the value of the National Health Insurance Program. Giving up on PhilHealth is analogous to giving up on the Filipino people,” it added.

The President recently broached the idea of dismantling PhilHealth during a meeting with leaders of Congress, to discuss measures that would eradicate red tape and corruption in government, including pressing matters related to the Universal Health Care and PhilHealth law.