Gierran not in favor of privatizing PhilHealth

New PhilHealth and CEO Dante Gierran said Thursday he is not in favor of the proposal to privatize the state insurer, adding it could send the “wrong signal” to Filipinos.

Gierran said at a hearing at the Congress that PhilHealth privatization could give the wrong impression that the government could not be trusted in handling the agency.

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“Are we telling the people of the Philippines and the world na ang mga tao lang sa pribado ang marunong magtrabaho nang tama? Hindi marunong ang mga taga-gobyerno tulad natin?” he said.

President Rodrigo Duterte himself first presented the idea to privatize PhilHealth.

“Wow, hindi maganda yan. It will send a wrong signal to our people that people in the government cannot be trusted,” Geirran added.

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Gierran formerly served as the director of the National Bureau of Investigation, was appointed to lead PhilHealth in August.

Also read: New PhilHealth chief given until December to ‘clean up’ corruption mess

Gierran not in favor of privatizing PhilHealth

The PhilHealth chief also said that the privatization might also not be favorable for its members.

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“We respect the wisdom of the President. But kung i-privatize ang PhilHealth, ano ang mangyari sa ating mga miyembro? Saan pupunta itong mga miyembro natin?” Gierran said.

“Sa PhilHealth, meron tayong tinatawag na outright membership. Kahit hindi ka miyembro kapag pumunta ka sa ospital, member ka kaagad. And then outright eligibility. Saan natin kukunin ito kapag i-privatize natin ito?” he added.

On Monday, Duterte said he would propose to Congress just to abolish PhilHealth amid allegations of widespread corruption.

“Itong PhilHealth, I am going to propose to Congress to abolish the— Kung i-privatize mo naman, susmaryosep, walang pera. Sinong insurer niyo? Sabihin ng mga kapitalista sa insurance, ‘kami ang magbayad? Wala kayong pondo,’” Duterte said in a televised address.

The President said the lack of funds is why the country is selling properties in Japan.

“That’s the reason why we are selling properties, real estate properties in Japan because we have to raise money. Wala nang pambayad diyan sa PhilHealth na ‘yan kaya walang ibang remedy diyan, it must be a surgical move,” the President added.