Gordon: PhilHealth failure to pay debt to affect PRC's COVID-19 operations
Photo Credit: Philippine Red Cross Facebook Page
Senator Richard Gordon said the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) will most likely suspend COVID-19 testing for members of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) because of its failure to pay its remaining balances to the organization.
Gordon, who is also chairman and CEO of PRC, disclosed in a radio interview over the weekend that PhilHealth has yet to settle its debt to the organization, which he said is nearing P1 billion.
He said PhilHealth’s non-payment of P700.5 million will prevent the PRC from procuring test kits.
Should supply remain scarce, the PRC will be forced to stop the operation of its testing center in Manila and will not be able to open its newly-built laboratories in Bacolod, Zamboanga and Cagayan de Oro City, according to Gordon.
“How can we operate if we do not have enough test kits and we do not have money to pay our medical technologists and other staff? We have been totally cooperative in all aspects but we cannot afford to continue if the government, particularly PhilHealth, continues to fail to pay for their lawful obligations,” the senator said.
Gordon said he has already reached out to concerned government officials and has been continuously calling PhilHealth’s attention to immediately act on the matter.
Nevertheless, he said the PRC will continue to accommodate walk-in individuals who will pay for their swab tests.
Gordon, who is also chairman and CEO of PRC, disclosed in a radio interview over the weekend that PhilHealth has yet to settle its debt to the organization, which he said is nearing P1 billion.
He said PhilHealth’s non-payment of P700.5 million will prevent the PRC from procuring test kits.
Should supply remain scarce, the PRC will be forced to stop the operation of its testing center in Manila and will not be able to open its newly-built laboratories in Bacolod, Zamboanga and Cagayan de Oro City, according to Gordon.
“How can we operate if we do not have enough test kits and we do not have money to pay our medical technologists and other staff? We have been totally cooperative in all aspects but we cannot afford to continue if the government, particularly PhilHealth, continues to fail to pay for their lawful obligations,” the senator said.
Gordon said he has already reached out to concerned government officials and has been continuously calling PhilHealth’s attention to immediately act on the matter.
Nevertheless, he said the PRC will continue to accommodate walk-in individuals who will pay for their swab tests.
