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The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) owes the Philippine Red Cross nearly P1 billion in coronavirus smear tests, the president of the humanitarian organization said on Monday.
Red Cross President Senator Richard Gordon urged the state insurer to pay the outstanding balance on time to avoid another suspension of state-funded swab testing.
“We are biting our nails in hopes that they will pay off their debts before this becomes a ‘second part’ of the problem,” Gordon said in a tweet, referring to the Red Cross’ decision to stop testing in October last year after PhilHealth debt. reached almost P931 million.
Testing resumed shortly after Philhealth made a partial payment.
Gordon said the state insurer should pay at least P500 million “immediately.”
PhilHealth was supposed to pay the Red Cross “every three days,” but its last payment was on December 29.
The Red Cross has performed 1.6 million swab tests, many of them on overseas Filipino workers and front-line medical personnel, Gordon said.
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