MANILA – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested the owner of the dialysis center allegedly involved in the “ghost” dialysis scam with the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).
Dr. Brian Sy, owner of the WellMed Dialysis Center in Quezon City, was arrested on Monday due to charges of estafa, falsification of public documents, and violation of the PhilHealth law.
NBI public information chief Nick Suarez said Sy’s arrest was based on a complaint filed by PhilHealth after two former employees of the dialysis center revealed the alleged scam.
“After careful evaluation, on those bases, the NBI found sufficient basis to effect the arrest of Mr. Bryan Sy,” Suarez said.
However, Sy denied personal knowledge on the alleged “ghost” scam, saying the former employees of the clinic were the ones supposedly involved in the fraudulent claims.
Edwin Roberto, a former employee of WellMed, last week said the clinic received payments from PhilHealth for dialysis treatments of deceased patients.
However, WellMed denied the employee’s allegation.
“WellMed and its owners did not and would not, in any way, consent to, or participate in any ‘ghost dialysis’ or fraudulent scheme as described by Mr. Roberto,” WellMed said. /PN
