B. Braun Avitum, the German firm linked to allegations of irregularities at the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHilHealth), said today it fully supports the Senate's current PhilHealth in-person and virtual public hearing.
"We are one with the government in its quest for transparency and good governance, and will extend full cooperation in this endeavor,’’ Avitum said in a statement.
Avitum said it is unfazed with the added issues brought up by Senator Panfilo M. Lacson and Thorrson Montes Keith, resigned PhilHealth anti-fraud officer.
The company maintains that it has not engaged in any illegal or unethical activities, citing the reputation that it has established for decades.
B. Braun Avitum Philippines' mother company is German medical and pharmaceutical device company B. Braum Avitum.
The statement further pointed out that the company was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on December 11, 1985 as B. Braun Medical Supplies, Inc., whereas, B. Braun Avitum, a wholly-owned subsidiary of B. Braun Medical Supplies, Inc., was originally incorporated as Philippine Renal Care, Inc. on January 24, 2002 (Company Registration No. A200201223) and later renamed as B. Braun Avitum Philippines, Inc.
The company further explained: "As a medical technology company with a global history of 180 years and having served the Filipino people for 34 years, B. Braun Avitum holds itself strictly to the highest standards of integrity in all its business dealings. Compliance is more than simply complying with laws and requirements. It also embraces ethical values of integrity, fairness, and sustainability. In each and every one of our business transactions, we adhere to the most stringent standards of integrity and professionalism."
Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III, chairman of the Senate Committee of the Whole investigating the PhilHealth mess, ordered the secretariat of the Committee to take a closer look at healthcare institutions (HCIs) that received funds from the PhilHealth's Interim Reimbursement Mechanism (IRM).
B. Braum Avitum, which owns and manages 25 dialysis centers across Luzon, was among these HCIs.
It may be recalled that during a Senate hearing, Senator Joel Villanueva brought up the fact that B. Braun Avitum's facility in Benguet was given P11.38 million on May 5 through the IRM. The senator alleged that "PhilHealth's advance payments to dialysis centers like B. Braun were provided up to the maximum limit when IRM releases to COVID-19 hospitals only hovered around 50 to 70 percent."
B. Braum Avitum's official statement addresses Villanueva's concerns. The statement reads: "During the ongoing pandemic, the funds made available through the IRTM to support the operations of all Philippine healthcare institutions (HCIs) have enabled B. Braun Avitum to provide quality renal services to dialysis patients who require regular treatment. Such treatment must not be interrupted despite the coronavirus situation, as our patients' lives will be compromised. Together with all other HCIs who have and are receiving IRM funds, B. Braun Avitum is deeply appreciative of the IRM funds received from PhilHealth."
Lacson, according to Avitum, presented a document indicating that B. Braun is allegedly the same health care institution involved in the P9.7 million that was wrongly miscredited to Balanga Rural Bank in Bataan in May 2019.
Keith then claimed that he believes PhilHealth Senior Vice President Rodolfo Del Rosario is the owner of the B. Braun. Del Rosario has denied the allegation.