The chief of the Department of Health (DOH) warned health-care providers, state workers and health officials against cheating the social health insurance system, vowing that the government will run after and prosecute fraudsters.
Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III, who is also chairman of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), also said he will have zero tolerance for corruption.
“I strongly denounce and condemn in no uncertain terms of all forms of fraud that threaten the sustainability and integrity of our social health insurance system,” Duque said.
“As we are about to implement a landmark legislation, the Universal Health Care Act, I appeal to all of you—the media, officials in all levels of government, our health professionals/health-care providers to unite in the cause of fighting for better health care for all,” he added.
Duque himself had been in the spotlight recently after Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson had said he will see a Senate probe into the health chief’s “conflict of interest” when the 18th Congress opens in July. Lacson made public a document showing Duque allowed PhilHealth to rent in 2018 a family-owned building in Dagupan for over P529,000 a month.
“Let us not get distracted. The issue is not about me. The issue here is about corruption and fraud. My duty is to act on President Duterte’s anti-corruption campaign, and all forms of corruption in the department and its attached agencies, most especially where the social health insurance funds are siphoned. It must stop and end now,” he said.