Ex-DOH chief to Duque: Temporarily take over PhilHealth amid ghost claims

Former Health Secretary Janette Garin speaks before the media in a QC forum regarding various issues particularly the PhilHealth ghost dialysis scam. INQUIRER.net photo / Consuelo Marquez

MANILA, Philippines — Former Health Secretary Janette Garin appealed to incumbent Health Secretary Francisco Duque III to temporarily take over the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) following the issue on the agency’s so-called “ghost” dialysis treatments.

“Duque should just take over PhilHealth for the meantime and a new board should be appointed,” Garin said in a press conference in Quezon City on Wednesday.

Garin also said Duque, with the leadership of President Rodrigo Duterte, can help reform the agency.

“Secretary Duque has a very good asset. He has President Duterte who has political will that can reform PhilHealth,” she said.

Garin also suggested that a new and transparent board members should be appointed, noting that these members should not allow PhilHealth “mafia” to conduct fraudulent schemes.

“A new board that should be transparent and hindi susundan ‘yung mga mafia sa loob,” Garin said.

READ: Duterte to NBI: Arrest owners of health centers in ‘ghost’ dialysis scam

On Wednesday, Duterte asked PhilHealth acting head Roy Ferrer and its board members to give their “courtesy resignation” over the allegations of “ghost” dialysis treatment scheme. (Editor: Jonathan P. Vicente)

READ: PhilHealth execs asked to submit courtesy resignation over dialysis mess