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Manila Bulletin devider devider Ejercito rejects suspension of UHC amid allegations of ghost transactions at PhilHealth

Ejercito rejects suspension of UHC amid allegations of ghost transactions at PhilHealth

Published Jun 7, 2019 04:49 pm
By Hannah Torregoza Outgoing Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito on Friday rejected calls to suspend the implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) law amid allegations of fraudulent transactions within PhilHealth. Sen. JV Ejercito (Senate of the Philippines / MANILA BULLETIN) Sen. JV Ejercito (Senate of the Philippines / MANILA BULLETIN) “We should not let patients who badly need dialysis suffer because of the allegations of fraudulent transactions within PhilHealth,” Ejercito said in a statement. “PhilHealth should continue providing health services but ensure the authenticity of those who avail the services,” the senator added. The senator assured that the recently signed law provided stiffer penalties for unethical and fraudulent transactions. “The UHC just needs to be implemented. As I mentioned, it will be unfair for the rest to be deprived of PhilHealth’s services,” said Ejercito, who chairs the Senate committee on health and demography, and principal author and co-sponsor of the measure. “Investigations should continue and appropriate charges should be filed,” added the lawmaker. The UHC law ensures that all Filipino citizens are automatically enrolled in the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) or PhilHealth so they can avail of free treatments and medical assistance to improve their health. Calls to suspend the implementation of the UHC surfaced after it was reported that PhilHealth was paying for “ghost dialysis” treatments. Under the law, health care providers “who commit unethical acts, abuses the authority vested upon the health care provider, or performs fraudulent act shall be punished by a fine of P200,000 for each count, or suspension of its contracts or accreditation, whichever is shorter, or both, at the discretion of PhilHealth, taking into consideration the gravity of the offenses.” Violators may also face imprisonment of six months and one day up to six years. READ MORE: 'Ghost dialysis' blamed on corruption at Philhealth, Philhealth probes 8,000 'ghost dialysis' cases
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