QUEZON CITY, Philippines – The Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. (PHAPI) said around 200 private hospitals are on the verge of closure and are likely to withdraw accreditation from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) if the insurance company will not pay all their claims by the end of this month.
“This is a voluntary thing. Kung mag-discredit na kami, wala kami bina-violate na batas kasi voluntary (If we decide to withdraw our accreditation, we wouldn’t be violating any law because it’s voluntary)” according to PHAPI President Dr. Rusty Jimenez.
For its part, PhilHealth admitted that the agency owes private hospitals but they want to make sure that all applications are legitimate.
“We are warning some hospitals and doctors na for years ginawang gatasan ang PhilHealth (who for years have been milking Philhealth) by claiming fraudulent claims. In this administration, we will make sure na mahuhuli namin kayo at mapaparusahan (that you will be arrested and penalized),” said Roberto Salvador, PhilHealth board member for Formal Economy Sector.
Payment of claims is the obligation of PhilHealth’s regional vice presidents.
Recently, PhilHealth Interim President and CEO Dr. Celestina De La Serna reshuffled all of the agency’s vice presidents who had been in their position for decades. But after the reassignment, issues of corruption surfaced against Dela Serna.
From the more than 2,000 hospitals, the country only has about 70,000 bed capacity. This is far short from the World Health Organization’s (WHO) standard bed capacity of 100,000 to accommodate 100 million of the country’s population.
Should the concerned hospitals close, one repercussion is that the country’s hospital bed capacity will dwindle even more. – Mon Jocson / Marje Pelayo | UNTV News & Rescue
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