New PhilHealth chief vows more accountability
Inquirer file photo
MANILA, Philippines — The newly appointed president of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) assured it has a system of accountability in place to hold its leaders responsible amid the issues hounding it, particularly the transfer of billions of its “excess” funds to the treasury for nonhealth related programs.
During his first press briefing, PhilHealth president and CEO Dr. Edwin Mercado said his current goal is to make PhilHealth’s performance evaluation metrics “very objective.”
“We want to strengthen a culture of accountability and meritocracy here at PhilHealth, and that includes the board of directors, which includes me,” he added.
His statement came amid questions on whether the state health insurer would comply with Associate Justice Antonio Kho Jr.’s suggestion that “it’s time to overhaul PhilHealth and change the board” after it failed to comply with the law on the sourcing of its budget, during the oral arguments of the controversial transfer of the P89.9-billion of PhilHealth’s unutilized government subsidies from to the national treasury.
Mercado, who took over PhilHealth in February, is the second appointee of President Marcos to lead the state health insurer.
