By EJ Roque/Philippine News Agency
MANILA — Malacañang on Friday expressed concern over the alleged anomalies at the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).
“The Palace views with deep concern the allegations of irregularities involving the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), particularly those with regard to the reported anomalies in connection with bogus kidney dialysis treatments,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.
Panelo said President Rodrigo R. Duterte has ordered the PhilHealth management to file criminal charges against those who misused the funds for years.
“The President instructs the institution’s acting President to submit a detailed report on these irregularities. We will put a stop to this corruption and we will make sure that the law on universal health care is strictly enforced,” he said.
Panelo added that PhilHealth is already acting on the matter.
“The PhilHealth has already initiated several actions on the matter. It filed several administrative complaints against those involved in the fraud,” he said.
Panelo reiterated the Duterte administration’s vow to combat corruption in government.
“The Duterte Administration is steadfast in its goal to eliminate corruption in all levels of the bureaucracy. All persons involved in the alleged fraud will be prosecuted and face accountability. They shall reap the harshest penalty imposed by law. Nothing can shield them from prosecution and punishment,” he said.
On Thursday, a news report said Edwin Roberto and Liezl Santos, former employees of the WellMed Dialysis & Laboratory Center Corp. (WellMed) in Novaliches, Quezon City, claimed that PhilHealth continued paying for the dialysis of the center’s dead patients without checking the validity of the claims.
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