Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa raised concerns over the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s (PhilHealth) failure to settle ₱800 million in unpaid hospital claims.
During a meeting at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City, Herbosa highlighted PhilHealth’s inefficiencies, noting that the agency has yet to pay its debts despite reportedly having sufficient funds in its accounts.
He called on PhilHealth to address its system flaws and promptly settle its obligations, particularly to private healthcare institutions like St. Luke’s.
The growing debt has alarmed private hospitals, many of which depend on PhilHealth reimbursements to maintain operations. Herbosa’s remarks underscore ongoing challenges with the state health insurer, which has faced criticism for delayed payouts and alleged mismanagement.
PhilHealth has not issued a public response to the claims. Meanwhile, calls for reform intensify as healthcare providers grapple with financial difficulties linked to unpaid claims.
