FOLLOWING an appeal to officials of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), the suspension of accreditation of Benguet General Hospital (BeGH) was deferred following the appeal of Benguet legislative Eric Go Yap.
Yap, in a statement, said Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and PhilHealth President lawyer Dante Gierran decided to defer the suspension of Philhealth accreditation of BeGH.
“Details are still sketchy at this point, but we should have a clearer picture as soon as a formal s notice is served, whether the suspension is totally lifted or just postponed. Regardless, this is a welcome development considering the fact that the hospital is due for suspension starting March 15 until June 12,” Yap said.
Yap earlier chided the board of directors of PhilHealth, suspending the accreditation of BeGH for three months starting March 15.
The lawmaker said now is the worst time to suspend the accreditation of BeGH for an administrative offense in 2011 after receiving from PhilHealth dated December 10, 2020, granting the issuance of Writ of Execution of the decision in a complaint dated October 18, 2011, which imposes penalties of fines and the suspension of accreditation for three months.
“This is ill-timed, unjust and definitely a major setback for our healthcare service delivery in this time of pandemic. We’ve been burning lines and exerting all efforts necessary since the issuance in December, to recall this order. The three-month suspension of accreditation will incur a financial loss estimated at least P14 million monthly and will severely affect our people seeking free and efficient healthcare service,” Yap said.
According to the Order, the suspension of PhilHealth accreditation of BeGH will take effect from March 15 until June 12 of this year and a fine of P10,000.
Yap is unfazed and is confident that this will be hurdled again.
“We are hoping for the best but we are ready for the worst. I already have backup plans ready in case the result doesn’t go in our favor. Since the pandemic, we endured many challenges and we are not about to surrender now. Our resilience will be tested again. It doesn’t matter if this is a case from 2011, it affects us and it is our moral responsibility to do everything in our power to turn this setback into a favorable situation,” the lawmaker said.
Yap assured the issue will soon be resolved in favor of Benguet.
“Our people deserve an efficient and effective health service delivery. Health protection for all should not be hampered,” added Yap. (Roderick Osis)