DOH backs designation of DOF chief as PhilHealth board ex-officio chair

MANILA, Philippines — Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III on Monday said the health agency “strongly supports” the proposal to appoint the Secretary of the Department of Finance (DOF) as ex-officio chairman of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) board.

“Considering the urgent need to ensure that the board implements efficient fund management for PhilHealth, we welcome the proposal to strengthen fiscal management measures that shall be made possible through the chairmanship of the Secretary of Finance,” Duque said during the hearing of the Senate committee on health and demography.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, who was also present during the hearing, admitted that should the measure be passed and he be appointed as chairperson of the PhilHealth board, time management and time allocation will be “very difficult.”

However, he said he will do his best to implement and abide by the law.

“I do not seek this position but I take the policies, the law very seriously. I will do my best in implementing Universal Health Care law,” Dominguez said.

“It will be very difficult to allocate my time but I will ask to be excused from some other less pressing assignments if I am given this position,” he added.

If he is appointed to the position, he assured that his first order of business will be to “make sure that there is no leakage” in the PhilHealth funds.

“We are prepared to do that and we are prepared to implement a new information IP system which is very important to managing this institution,” he added.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III filed on September 14 Senate Bill No. 1829, which seeks to amend the Universal Health Care Act and allow the appointment of the DOF Secretary as head of the PhilHealth board.

KGA

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