The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) owes Philippine Red Cross (PRC) some P800 million for its COVID-19 testing services, Sen. Richard J. Gordon said Saturday.
PhilHealth had reduced its P1.1-billion PRC debt to P623 million after paying P500 million last October and another P100 million last Nov. 5.
PRC had threatened to stop conducting COVID-19 testing because it was running out of funds to buy supplies from China. Its fees are lower than fees charged by private laboratories.
“Ayaw ko sanang pinaguusapan ‘yan pero nasa P800 million na naman,’’ Gordon, chairman and CEO of PRC, said during a DWIZ radio interview.
(I really don’t want not to talk about it but it has now reached P800 million)
‘’Di puwede kasi kung kelan lang nila gusto magbayad dahil lalaki ng lalaki baka mapilitan kami itigil dahil bibili pa kami ng gamit tapos imemaintain naman ang mga tao sa laboratory,’’ he said.
(It is not right that they pay when they feel like it because their debt is getting bigger or else we might be forced to close. We have to buy medicines and we have to buy supplies and maintain our personnel manning the laboratories)
Some laboratories closed for the holidays, he added.
Gordon said PRC averages 9,000 testing daily.
‘’Kailangan ‘wag tigilan ang pagtetesting dahil manghahawa ‘yan. Extraordinary diligence dapat gawin bantayan nating maigi para di na magkalat yan,’’ he stressed.
(Testing should not stop lest there would be infections. We need extraordinary diligence in tightening the lid or we face widespread infection)
Gordon said it should be PhilHealth that should update its debt lest PRC would not be able to perform its job. ‘’Ang nakakalungkot, dapat sila ang magaadvance, minsan lang nagadvance, di na kami makatigil dahil marami ang dapat itest at sa amin ipinadadala lahat. Kami ang nagtetest, OFW okay lang naman sa akin basta wag ilagay sa alanganin ang eco situation ng Red Cross,’’ he said.
(What is sad is that they have to pay in advance. It gave advanced payment once. We were not able to stop because there are many tests undertaken. Tests on Overseas Filipino Workers are OK but PhilHealth should not place PRC in a bad economic situation)