Cyberbaguioboy

Some doctors and hospitals have defrauded the government’s Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) by P4 billion in unnecessary or overpriced medical procedures since 1995, an official has disclosed to the Senate.

This is perhaps the most depressing story I’ve read today. I personally know how expensive medicines and health procedures are. I myself had been complaining about doctors not issuing receipts, and therefore the fees they charge are not included in the PhilHealth discounts.

The bigger issue here is actually the healthcare system in the Philippines. Why can’t government spend billions of pesos to ensure the health of its citizens, especially those being taxed monthly. Isn’t that our right as a citizen? Or even free education? But that’s another matter of discussion.

The story continues:

Dr. Madeleine Valera, PhilHealth vice president for health finance policy, said fraudulent claims included one doctor who conducted more than 2,000 cataract surgeries worth P17 million in one year. She said among the cases being investigated by PhilHealth were those involving circumcisions and toenail extractions.

“It would appear [from medical records submitted to PhilHealth] that a lot of Filipinos are supot [uncircumcised] and have infection on their toenails,” she told a hearing Tuesday.

Now that’s one for Philippine medical history books!

“May mga raket din ang mga doctor [Doctors also have their rackets], more as individuals than as syndicates. Some doctors are in on the scam. Many have earned millions from PhilHealth,” Valera said.

She said the scam involved some “scalawag” doctors treating “ghost patients,” and making “dubious claims.” Others “harvest” these patients by enrolling them in PhilHealth before they are treated.

And here’s the part that takes the cake.

Senator Richard Gordon, head of the Senate committee on government corporations who called for the off-session hearing, said, “The national government is the biggest violator of premium payments,” with P5 billion in unpaid PhilHealth premiums.