Health Secretary Francisco Duque III defended himself from allegations that he failed to oversee the controversial reimbursement scheme of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp., saying he was busy focusing in battling the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
“Hindi po ako nakasama sa pag-aaral nito (interim reimbursement scheme) noong unang panahon dahil sa tindi ng aking trabaho bilang chairman ng IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force), na ang aming tinutugunan ay yung mismong paglaki ng bilang ng COVID-19,” Duque explained himself to lawmakers.
[I was not part of those who studied the implementation of the interim reimbursement scheme because of the impact of my functions as chairman of the IATF, where we directly respond to the growing cases of COVID-19.]
“Talagang napakahirap po ng ating trabaho dahil maliban sa aking pamamalakad sa Department of Health, from PhilHealth, ay pinapangasiwaan ko pa ang IATF kung saan meron kaming 33 member agencies. Napakahirap po talaga,” he added.
[My job was really difficult because aside from running the DOH, checking on PhilHealth, I also head the IATF composed of 33 member agencies. This is really difficult.]
On Tuesday evening, Duque said he was not part of the deliberation on the IRM board resolution.
“As a non-voting Chairman under the Universal Health Care Law, it is unfortunate that I was impleaded in the alleged IRM irregularities when I was not even present during the deliberation nor did I sign the Board resolution.”
Duque, who serves as an ex-officio member of PhilHealth’s board of directors, was also recommended by the Senate to be made answerable for “malversation of public funds” and for violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
