MANILA – Ipinahinto na ng Philippine Red Cross ang pagsasagawa ng COVID-19 test na binabayaran ng Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).
JUST IN: Philippine Red Cross ceases its chargeable COVID-19 testing to PhilHealth. Cites inability of the state-health insurer to settle its P930-million balance. The order took effect yesterday, October 14. | @BomboRadyoNews pic.twitter.com/lnxKfZHGNY
— Christian Yosores (@chrisyosores) October 15, 2020
Ayon sa PRC, bigo ang state-health insurer na bayaran ang balanse nito sa COVID-19 tests na aabot pa sa higit P930-million.
“As the PRC continues to face challenges with PhilHealth due to its inability to settle its ever-increasing outstanding balance to the PRC, we are constrained to cease conducting tests chargeable to PhilHealth effective today, 14 October 2020.”
Amiando ang institusyon na hindi rin madali na ihinto ang pagbibigay nila ng tulong sa gobyerno, pero sila naman din umano ang malulugi kung kukulangin sila sa pang-sustento sa mga gamit.
Aabot sa $6-million ang ginagastos ng PRC sa kada order ng test kits at reagents mula China.
“The PRC cannot commit to these orders unless it has the finances to pay for the orders. This is what makes PhilHealth’s settlement of its outstanding obligations critical.”
Sa ilalim ng isang memorandum of agreement, pinaglalaan ng P100-million revolving fund ang PhilHealth, pero ayon sa PRC, ni minsan ay hindi naglabas ang state-health insurer ng napagkasunduang halaga na panggastos.
Bigo rin daw ang kompanya na bayaran ang priority tests na sinagot ng institusyon para sa iba’t-ibang ahensya ng gobyerno.
“As a result, the total billings sent by the PRC to PhilHealth stand at Php1,014,975,500.00 as of October 13, 2020. Of this amount, Php 930,993,000.00 represents overdue amounts.”
Aalamin daw ng PRC Board at stakeholders kung ano ang mga ginagawang hakbang ng PRC para makolekta ang balance ng PhilHealth. Noong September 8 pa umano huling nag-abot ng bayad ang state-health insurer.
Habang hinihintay ang resulta ng imbestigasyon, hindi muna sasagutin ng PRC ang COVID-19 tests ng mga overseas Filipino workers, mga dumarating sa paliparan at pantalan, indibidwal na nasa mega swabbing facilities at local government units, health frontliners at government workers, at iba pang pasok sa expanded guidelines ng Department of Health (DOH).
“We shall complete the testing of all specimens submitted to the PRC up to 11:59PM today,” sa isang statement na may petsang October 14.
Ang mga tatanggapin lang daw ng PRC for testing ay yung mga indibidwal na nagpa-book sa kanilang 1158 Helpline o online, mula sa pribadong kompanya at organisasyon, mga LGUs at iba pang ahensya ng gobyerno na may laboratory testing agreement, at may kakayahang magbayad agad.
“One simply cannot turn a blind eye to the impact of a receivable amount in the level of PhilHealth’s obligations vis-a-vis the working capital of any business concern, specifically, its ability to replenish materials and supplies required in its processing operations.”
Huling nagkita sa isang pulong sina PRC chairman Sen. Richard Gordon, DOH Sec. Francisco Duque at PhilHealth president and CEO Dante Gierran noong September 25. Dito ipinangako umano ni Gierran na babayaran ng kompanya ang balanse nito sa PRC.
“Atty. Gierran also requested that PRC adjust its test fee to Php = 3,409.00 from the present Php3,500.00. PRC Chairman Gordon agreed and asked for a written request.”
Nagpadala naman daw ang PhilHealth ng request ang PhilHealth pero hindi nakasaad dito ang plano sa pagbabayad ng mga balanse.
“The PRC formalized its assent to the request for a fee reduction in the hope that by doing so, it would remove an obstacle in receiving the much needed and very overdue payment for its past services. No payment has been made to this date.”
As of October 6, aabot na raw sa 1-million tests ang nagawa ng PRC. Katumbas nito ang 26% ng pambansang output sa isinasagawang testing sa COVID-19. Nasa 21 naman na ang laboratoryo ng institusyon, na gumagawa ng 42,000 tests kada araw.
“This will further expand in the following days as the PRC is already establishing molecular laboratories in Isabela, Passi, Surigao, each with a capacity to test 2,000 tests per day.”
