The newly-appointed chief of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp (PhilHealth) assured the public that he would take necessary steps to learn about the ropes in public health after he earlier admitted lack of knowledge and experience on the matter.
PhilHealth president and CEO Dante Gierran received backlash after he stated that he does “not know what public health is,” just a day after President Rodrigo Duterte announced his appointment to lead the state medical insurer hounded with various controversies.
“I admit, ano ba ang alam ko sa public health? Of course, aaralin ko ‘yan. Aaralin ko ‘yan, ‘di ko nga alam eh. Alangan naman sabihin ko alam ko eh hindi ko nga alam?” Gierran, the former head of the National Bureau of Investigation said in a virtual press briefing.
[I admit, what do I know about public health? Of course, I will educate myself. I will study that because I am not familiar with it. Why would I claim knowledge of the matter when I am unfamiliar with it?]
“Hayaan niyo sila ‘yung nagko-comment (Let them comment on it). It’s their right,” he added, referring to his critics.
Gierran assumed leadership of PhilHealth following the resignation of Ricardo Morales over his medical condition.
“I have to talk to experts. I have to refer to experts to give me inputs. We do not have the monopoly of wisdom,” he said.
