COA questions P3-M medical aid for Napolcom employee

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Audit (COA) has questioned the grant of P3.191 million in medical assistance to a lone employee of the National Police Commission (Napolcom) last year.

In a 2014 report released yesterday, state auditors said such a large reimbursement for the hospitalization of just one person was unreasonable.

They said the grant of medical benefits to the unidentified government employee was in violation of Presidential Decree 1184 or the Integrated National Police Professionalization Law of 1977.

The Napolcom central office paid more than P7.5 million for the medical and hospitalization expenses of its employees in 2014, according to the audit team.

Of the amount, P3.191 million was granted to just one employee, who had been admitted and confined at the Makati Medical Center.

The COA report noted that some of the illnesses covered by the medical benefits were not work-related such as cataract, hemorrhoids, diabetes, urinary tract infection, cervical mass and cholecystitis.

State auditors said the Napolcom should formulate guidelines in granting medical assistance to its employees.

The claims for medical benefits should be supported, among others, by a certification from the attending physician to ensure compliance with the law, the COA said.