Red Cross paid P800M by PhilHealth so far, says Gordon

A Red Cross worker takes a swab sample of a patient at the Philippine Red Cross laboratory in Mandaluyong City in April. —INQUIRER PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has so far paid the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) P800 million out of its P1.1 billion debt, Senator Richard Gordon said Wednesday.

At the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum, Gordon, PRC chairman, said PhilHealth paid the PRC another P100 million on Tuesday to make up for its debt for the COVID-19 tests administered by the humanitarian organization.

However, the senator said the debt of the state insurer continues to increase after the PRC resumed its coronavirus tests.

“Nakatatlong bayad na sila ng P100 million, so P800 million na ang naibayad nila. So kung tumigil ka sa P1.1 billion, dapat ang utang na lang nila ay P400 million. Pero diba nagtest kami ulit noong October 24, syempre dumadagdag ‘yang test na ‘yan,” he said.

(They paid three installments worth P100 million each, so they have paid P800 million in total. If they stop at P1.1 billion, the remaining debt would only be P400 million, but since we resumed testing on October 24, the tests would increase PhilHealth’s debt.)

PhilHealth initially paid P500 million to PRC before the succeeding P300 million payment in three installments.

The PRC temporarily suspended accommodating COVID-19 tests chargeable to PhilHealth since October 14 because of the state insurer’s debt to PRC.

PRC later resumed its testing services after PhilHealth made the partial payment.

/MUF