MANILA – The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) owes Philippine Red Cross (PRC) P822 million for the conduct of coronavirus disease 2019 9 (COVID-19) tests.
Sen. Richard Gordon – chairman of PRC – said the state insurer’s debt reached that high because it pays by installment.
“As we speak, ang utang ng PhilHealth ay umaabot sa P822 million. Babayaran nila paunti-unti. Inaabot na nung hindi nababayaran araw-araw,” Gordon said in an interview with DZBB on Sunday.
Gordon said PRC needs the money that PhilHealth will pay for its COVID-19 tests to be able to compensate their medical technologist, procure supplies, and build facilities.
“Hindi naman ako naniningil basta-basta, kailangan lang talaga makapagpatuloy at ma-keep up natin ang operations ng Red Cross. ‘Yung gobyerno sana, kusang-loob nilang tulungan kami,” he said.
The senator also doubted that there could be an entity that may benefit if ever PRC will halt its COVID testing efforts.
“Kung minsan nagsususpetsa ako, meron silang alaga siguro, na kapag nagsara kami kikita ‘yang mga ‘yan,” Gordon said.
In October last year, Red Cross stopped its COVID-19 tests after PhilHealth failed to settle its close to P1 billion debt. The former only resumed its operations after the latter paid the initial P500 million. The two had also an agreement that PhilHealth will pay P200 million per week to PRC.
Under the agreement it signed last year, PRC will charge P3,500 for the swab test of frontliners and other agencies endorsed by the PhilHealth, which will cover the cost of their COVID-19 tests./PN
