LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The Board of Directors of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC) recently deferred the suspension of accreditation of the Benguet General Hospital (BeGH) upon the intercession of Benguet Caretaker Congressman and Anti-Crime and Terrorism through Community Involvement and Support (ACT-CIS) Party-list Rep. Eric Yap so as not to impact the delivery of health care services and the government’s overall Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) response efforts.
The aforesaid matter was relayed to Congressman Yap by no less than Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and PHIC president Dante Gierran after the Board of Directors positively responded to his verbal and written interventions on the long-standing issue.
“Details are still sketchy at this point but we should have a clear picture as soon as formal notice is served, whether the suspension is totally lifted or just postponed. Regardless, this is still a welcome development considering the fact that the hospital is due for suspension starting March 15 until June 12 this year,” Yap stressed.
In behalf of the people and officialdom of Benguet, the lawmaker expressed his gratitude to PHIC president Gierran who personally assured him to fight tooth and nail to ensure the positive outcome of his appeal and also the other officials and personnel of the agency for supporting his cause.
Further, he also lauded Secretary Duque for heeding his call and gave him every reason to be confident on the positive decision before the scheduled board meeting.
Congressman Yap commended other members of the PHIC board who helped him in one way or another by listening to the appeal of the Benguet people not to enforce the suspension as it will surely have a great negative impact to the delivery of health care services and the government’s future COVID response efforts.
However, Yap admitted that the battle is not over yet but he will make sure that the issue will be resolved in favor of the Benguet people as the deferment of the suspension of accreditation is just one big step heading to the said direction as the resident deserve an efficient and effective health service delivery.
According to him, health protection for all should not be hampered, especially during these difficult times that the battle against the deadly virus remains a major priority of the government, thus, unnecessary scenarios that tend to ruin such gains has no place in the society.
The supposed suspension of accreditation of the provincial government-run hospital will cause the same to incur over P14 million in monthly loses because of the prescribed prohibition for the health facility not to process PHIC claims and for the State insurance corporation not to pay the same due to previous violations that were committed that trace back to 2011.
He assured concerned stakeholders that he will remain vigilant on the latest developments that will unfold on the said issue so that appropriate actions could immediately be undertaken to ensure that there will be continuity in the acceptance of the processing and payment of PHIC claims so as not to impede the delivery of health care services and the enhancement of the ongoing COVID response efforts.
The caretaker congressman stipulated that the ongoing controversy will not have an effect on the proposed re-nationalization of the hospital as the proposed bill is still pending approval in the Senate.
By HENT
Photo by Armando M. Bolislis