ILOILO CITY — Starting next year, seven private hospitals in Iloilo City will no longer be linked to the state-run Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) for the latter’s failure to reimburse in full the P545 million claims during the pandemic period.

St. Paul’s Hospital, Iloilo Doctors Hospital, Iloilo Mission Hospital, The Medical City Iloilo, Medicus Medical Center, Qualimed Hospital Iloilo, and Metro Iloilo Hospital and Medical Center have formally informed Mayor Jerry Treñas in a letter.

“We are greatly saddened by this action we have to take. However, we are left with no other choice but to ensure the survival of our hospitals so that we can uphold our commitment to offer necessary and quality healthcare to our patients,” said the management of the seven hospitals.

Of the P545 million, the seven private hospitals disclosed that only 20 percent of the reimbursement claims were paid by PhilHealth.

“Another set of accounts receivables piled up from September to November 2021,” they added.

While the seven private hospitals will be severing its ties, the managements assured that PhilHealth members will still be served.

“We would continue to serve PhilHealth members and provide statements of accounts for reimbursement and remit employee contributions, but will no longer automatically deduct and process claims,” they noted.

Last September, the Iloilo City government filed administrative complaints against PhilHealth-6 executives for failure to pay the hospitals’ claims.

“I am asking the PhilHealth to find ways to settle the accountabilities with the private hospitals. Since early this year, I tried to mediate between the PhilHealth and the hospitals to no avail,” said Treñas in a statement Sunday, December 12.