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Former NBI director now head of PhilHealth Dante Gierran. File photo from INQUIRER.net / CATHY MIRANDA
MANILA, Philippines – Albay’s representative, Joey Salceda, believes that the newly appointed director of PhilHealth, Dante Gierran, is qualified for the position.
Salceda said that the minimum qualifications for the position are at least seven (7) years of experience in the field of public health, administration, finance and health economics or a combination of any of these skills.
“Strictly speaking, yes … His administrative experience clearly counts, and he is also an accountant,” Salceda told reporters when asked if he thinks Gierran is qualified for the position based on the PhilHealth letter.
Salceda added that it is those around Gierran that the public should be aware of.
“If you surround yourself with honest and competent staff and associates from public health, finance and economics, you will do well. If he institutes lasting reforms, with our help in Congress, he will improve the situation, ”said Salceda.
“The head of Philhealth comes and goes, but the lower-level managers stay, as do the structural problems. These are issues that we must be vigilant about ”, added the legislator.
Salceda also proposed structural reforms within PhilHealth to address the alleged anomalies plaguing the agency.
In a 33-page report on the state health insurance system, the legislator called for a “system audit” of PhilHealth, specifically in four areas within the agency where there could be reform: reserve fund management, collections, claims and benefits, and governance.
Likewise, Salceda recommended that the reserve fund be accumulated net income, instead of the funds reserved from gross collection, as is the case with the current system.
In addition, he said that the Treasury Office should manage the reserve fund since it does not have to be integrated with insurance operations.
“What we found is that the reserve fund has been reduced even though PhilHealth has been in the green for several years. As a result, investment income, which can increase health benefits for people, is also declining, ”said Salceda.
The legislator also noted that PhilHealth is primarily an insurance and investment operation and not a healthcare operation.
Salceda also refuted claims that PhilHealth will lose P90 billion this year.
The legislator was referring to earlier pronouncements made by PhilHealth officials that the agency expects a net operating loss of P90 billion this year and P147 billion in 2021 if the pandemic persists and no vaccine is discovered.
“Philhealth will definitely lose money this year. But our findings, based on your own financial reports, show that these supposedly actuarial projections are overstated. They were in the red for only P5.99 billion for the first half of 2020, an acceptable loss given the circumstance, “said Salceda.
“If they are going to lose P90 billion this year, that would mean they will face a deficit of P84 billion for the rest of the year. This is simply not happening, given your own financial history, “added the legislator.
CFC
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