Topic: Missing 15 billion in Philhealth

PhilHealth or PhilWealth?

Exactly a year ago, our country Philippines started its own profound battle against
the Corona Virus Disease 2019 commonly known as the CoViD-19. Inclined with
this; a prompt scarcity of funds surfaced due to the sudden economic down-slope at
9.5 percentile— the world-bank reported last 2020. Furthermore, the need of financial
assistance is still prominent; we have numerous hospitals to fund, health equipment
and commodities to take care of, medical workers to compensate, and most especially,
Filipinos to protect. However, amidst the said health dilemma of the nation, last
August 2020 the headlines were stamped with a controversial graft and corruption
allegations that involves the largest public insurance company of the Filipinos—
Philhealth.

It was reported that almost 15 Billion pesos were smacked by a syndicate whistle
blower. A lot of factors were seen to bridge this huge crime such as reimbursements
for ghost patients, over-payments, misleading claims, and up-casing of not so severe
illnesses just to generate a higher budget. Also, the overpriced CoViD response
throughout the pandemic was a massive part as well. As a Filipino citizen, I have the
right to be mad with this allegations and so are you. Philhealth is established to
provide healthcare subsidy for those unfortunate, not to fill the pockets of those
privileged officers.

Now, let me state a few points why should we be mad and furious regarding the
mentioned matter.

First, Philhealth is from the diminished salary taxes of working Filipinos. A

specific percentage of their monthly compensation were being deducted for the
philhealth contribution and clearly, this issue is a transparent representation that it is
us— the Filipinos who are being robbed. Our workers are striving monthly and these
people will just easily take the said percentage away from them? It is unjust. It is so
wrong. No one deserves to be snatched a benefit that he nor she was paying for from
the start.

Second, healthcare should be accessible. Again, Philhealth was established to

support the healthcare needs of the Filipinos and at this point of time I can say that
our healthcare situation is filled with much toxicity and suffering—not just from the
perspective of a medical worker but of a normal citizen as well. This graft issue is
taking this accessibility for our countrymen. This corruption scheme has been an
unfair cycle for us. Healthcare should be sustainable and convenient especially in
circumstances like this.

Lastly, Philhealth is not taking the responsibility of the mentioned allegation.

Instead of taking responsibility, the solution that they have imposed is to increase the
monthly Philhealth contribution of the members. You see, this is a skeptical move.
Why would they raise the percentage of contribution if the funds are not missing just
like how they claim it to be? Another cover up that they have built for their-selves is
the recent 'liquidation' assertion that they have issued publicly. This gained so much
questions are doubts from the people because as how it is obvious— healthcare funds
are lacking and insufficient. To analogize, this is a big joke that the government can
not swallow, so they are using other methodologies to take the lump out.

To summarize, the Philhealth issue is affecting every Filipino citizen living in this
country as of now, we are being aggrieved amidst a pandemic, so we should take our
right to speak up and search for real transparency.

Filipinos deserve better. We deserve more than false statements and hypocrite
speeches, more than huge graft schemes from our own government officials, more
than insensitive fascist administration. We deserve better.

Now, I think it is time for you to ask yourself. Is this insurance company still
has the merits to be called 'Philhealth' or should we revise it as 'Philwealth'?