DoH ready to cooperate with hospital fund probe

THE Department of Health (DoH) said that it is ready to cooperate with the House of Representatives regarding the controversial Interim Reimbursement Program (IRM) that is set to be questioned by the House Appropriations Committee's oversight hearing on Monday.

Several lawmakers, led by Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas and Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin, are pushing for a full accounting of the IRM funds that were given to hospitals during the Covid-19 pandemic, questioning its legality despite being fully liquidated.

In a chance interview with reporters on Friday, Health Officer in Charge Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said that they welcome the possible inquiry into how the IRM funds were managed.

«If there are no issues, we should continue the policy, but if there are anomalies, we should either change it or remove it,» Domingo said.

He also said that the DoH is treading carefully in the implementation of its Primary Care Provider Network (PCPN), which would fund the Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama Package of the state health insurer to avoid the same controversy the IRM is facing.

«If the PCPN is being implemented nationwide, it may get up to P55 billion, so we should be sure on its implementation,» Domingo said.