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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Here's how ex-DOH chief Garin would fix PhilHealth

Here's how ex-DOH chief Garin would fix PhilHealth

Published Feb 15, 2024 06:00 am

At A Glance

  • House Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo 1st district Rep. Janette Garin has suggested a surefire way for the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to improve its services, and that's through outsourcing.

IMG-e5449bbc912b2d016959c9e7ca655729-V.jpgIloilo 1st district Rep. Janette Garin (PPAB)

House Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo 1st district Rep. Janette Garin has suggested a surefire way for the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to improve its services, and that's through outsourcing.

In a press briefing on Thursday, Feb. 15, Garin said PhilHealth can open up its services in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao for bidding from private health providers.

She said the competition that will stem from this bidding process will provide a more consistent and quality healthcare service to the public.

“Pag hindi maganda ang iyong serbisyo, eh ‘di papalitan ka (If your services are not good, then you will be replaced) because the private providers can actually efficiently deliver the services,” said Garin.

Under this set-up, PhilHealth will remain as the administrator by overseeing the implementation of the services.

Garin, a former Department of Health (DOH) secretary, noted that a similar proposal was actually approved and funded during the administration of the late former president Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.

However, it was “neglected” once former president Rodrigo Duterte started his term back in 2016.

Aside from its services, the lawmaker suggested that PhilHealth’s legal department and Information Technology (IT) department be outsourced as well because of their supposed inefficiencies.

Garin also urged the health state insurer to expand its coverage to major illnesses such as cancer, kidney failure, and even coronary artery bypass surgery in order to take the brunt of the exuberant cost away from patients.

“Ang layunin ng PhilHealth ay maibsan ang gastusin ng mga nagkakasakit, but the way things are going napakaliit ng kanilang naitutulong,” the solon said.

(The goal of PhilHealth is to alleviate the expenses of those who are sick, but the way things are going they are helping very little.)

“It’s a health insurance institution that should cushion the impact of an illness,” she added.

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