THE President should walk his talk on ridding his government of corruption. All those involved in the “lost” P15-billion PhilHealth fund must be held accountable. For several years now there have been talks about the so-called PhilHealth mafia. Perhaps this time it would be finally unmasked an d the mafiosis jailed?
But no doubt an overhaul has become necessary in the agency so that it can assist people in facing the pandemic. The people deserve no less.
PhilHealth contributors are evidently enraged with the news of scandalous advances, anomalous purchases and reimbursements – this is an outrageous plunder of the hard-earned money of PhilHealth contributors. Heads must roll.
What’s happening at PhilHealth has become more disgraceful in this time of health crisis. The P15 billion lost to thieves could have been used to purchase 11 million real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test kits, personal protective equipment and employ additional 10,000 doctors or 15,000 nurses. It could have been used to compensate frontliners working day in and day out to save lives and prevent COVID-19 from spreading to a larger population.
This corruption is a clear display shamelessness of amid a worsening pandemic. The people are angry because it is their money. The government should act quickly.
Taxpayers’ money, a huge part of which should have gone to strengthening the healthcare system, is funneled into the bank accounts of the mafia while government hospitals are in overcapacity and are evidently underfunded.
It is also deplorable that PhilHealth tried imposing a higher premium on overseas Filipino workers while it is in no position to do so. Is this a hasty, obvious act to cover up the missing funds?
PhilHealth funds could have also been allocated to the free treatment of indigent COVID-infected patients.
Yes, this is an outrageous plunder of the hard-earned money of PhilHealth contributors. Heads must roll.
