THE PRESIDENT of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, Dr. Celestina Ma. Jude Dela Serna confirmed the filing of additional 18 counts of administrative cases against a hospital and some doctors for alleged fraud on cataract operations conducted in Bacolod City.

Dela Serna in a letter to John Chiong, national commander of Task Force Kasanag (TFK), said they are only waiting for the certified true copies of the documents needed for the filing of the additional cases.

"Rest assured that filing of the appropriate cases against the involved doctors of cataract patients before other courts of competent jurisdiction or other government regulatory agencies like the Professional Regulation Commission is also being seriously considered. Once it is established, the filing of other cases of more serious consequences is warranted by the evidence at hand, we shall forthwith file them," Dela Serna said.

TFK has filed a letter-complaint to President Rodrigo Duterte and the Department of Health (DOH) and was endorsed by Assistant Secretary Jaime Llaguno Mabilin of the Presidential Complaint Center in Malacañang to PhilHealth regarding the recruitment of cataract patients by the Cataract Foundation.

The TFK reported the alleged fraud or recruitment of cataract patients committed by a certain hospital and eye doctors in Bacolod City which was first investigated by PhilHealth Office in Western Visayas.

Dela Serna in response to the letter said that before, PhilHealth had the highest payout for cataract surgeries or cataract removal which became possible because of the scheme used by erring doctors.

Oplan Kisapmata which was intended to address and ultimately stop the fraud being perpetrated by erring accredited eye doctors have resulted to their prosecution and eventual suspension, pay net of fine and revocation or non-renewal of their PhilHealth accreditation.

She also emphasized that today, cataract surgery or removal is not anymore in the list of top illnesses or operations with the higher PhilHealth benefits utilization.