Mercado ponders cure for ailing PhilHealth

Likening the state-run health insurer to a sick patient, the newly appointed chief of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) yesterday vowed to address issues related to benefits management and financial reporting to enhance its delivery of services.

-  ALEXIS ROMERO

PhilHealth president and chief executive officer Edwin Mercado said he would study thoroughly what processes need to be amended to comply with President Marcos' directive to expand the health insurer's benefits. "As a doctor, I view PhilHealth as a patient with illness and I am determining the cure," Mercado said in a press briefing at Malacañang.

Mercado acknowledged that he is facing a "huge challenge" as PhilHealth chief, but gave assurance that he is used to dealing with patients' concerns.

Mercado is planning to look into the efficiency of PhilHealth's operations, saying there are leaks and wastage that can be plugged.

He cited the need to standardize the recording of financial reports to ensure transparency and to digitize the processing of claims.

At the same press briefing, Mercado said PhilHealth would comply with whatever ruling the Supreme Court would issue on the petitions questioning the transfer of the state insurer's more than P89-billion "excess funds" to the national treasury.