By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) in the Western Visayas is looking into two Negros Occidental dialysis centers on allegations of “ghost patients,” which refers to claims made for patients who were already deceased. However, PhilHealth-Western Visayas Public Affairs head Janimhe Jalbuna has refused to name the establishments in question.
She said the matter came about after their system detected fraudulent claims seeking payment for health services by the two centers.
The PhilHealth official said claims in the amount of P2,600 per session were made for patients who had already passed away. She also confirmed, “The transaction was not consummated.”
The government healthcare provider has recently been at the center of controversy after reports of fraudulent claims were made by a private dialysis center in Quezon City.
Jalbuna called on members to update their records and those of their relatives. She also encouraged reporting hospitals and private medical establishments involved with such fraudulent acts.
Last year, the Office of the President ordered the Department of Health (DOH) to take action on reported fraudulent activities, which included the alleged widespread recruitment of cataract patients.
According to an initial complaint from anti-crime and anti-corruption group Task Force Kasanag, doctors allegedly paid social workers for “ferrying” PhilHealth members to undergo cataract surgery.
Social workers were reportedly paid between P500 and P1,000 per patient.
The scheme reportedly intended to have cataract surgeries conducted in order for claims to be made through the government healthcare provider. Patients were said to have been screened for surgery at Riverside Medical Center, where they were then referred to clinics operated by the physicians in question./DGB, WDJ