PhilHealth exec bares doctors’ cataract-operation schemes

MANILA, Philippines—“Plant-and-harvest” and “ghost patients” are among the observed schemes allegedly committed by doctors following an observation showing that cataract operations have become the highest paid service of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), Greg Rulloda, PhilHealth Corporate Affairs vice president said Tuesday.

“May tinatawag tayo na planting time at harvest time,” Rulloda said in an interview with Radyo INQUIRER 990AM, pertaining to an observed scheme where doctors shoulder the premium contribution of a PhilHealth member with cataract, to which they will operate in due time to get a P16,000 benefit for doing the operation.

“They plant by paying the premium contribution . . . pag dating ng araw . . . may makukuha sila ng P16,000 na benepisyo para sa isang mata,” he said.

Another, he said, is a scheme they called “ghost patient” where doctors claim to have operated a particular cataract patient who has never been listed to be under their care.

The Department of Health earlier said that it will look into a particular ophthalmologist who was said to have gotten P28 million from PhilHealth for cataract surgeries he performed in just a year.

For the full interview, listen to the attached audio clip from Radyo INQUIRER 990AM.