THE newly created Provincial Health Insurance of Negros Oriental (Phino) has targeted to get 57,000 indigent beneficiaries for the province’s local health program.

Dr. Ely Villapando, Phino consultant, said the target beneficiaries represent 55 percent of indigent households that cannot pay monthly contribution to Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

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Phino, a localized health program, is a brainchild of Governor Emilio Macias II. It aims to help indigent households that are not members of PhilHealth.

Villapando said Negros Oriental has a total of more than 108,000 indigent households but the 51,382 of them are PhilHealth members through the help of the local government units (LGUs).

He explained that the respective LGUs allotted fund every year to pay the monthly contribution of the more than 51,000 indigent households to PhilHealth.

The Provincial Government, together with Representatives Jocelyn Limkaichong (1st district), George Arnaiz (2nd district) and Pryde Henry Teves, has allotted counterparts to help LGUs for the purpose.

The governor, on the other hand, said the contributions paid by LGUs were not all used because majority of the PhilHealth members were not hospitalized and the fund cannot be reverted back to the LGUs.

He, however, understand the policy since it is provided by law.

In this connection, Macias said the LGUs failed to expand the number of beneficiaries due to limited funding.

Study shows that of the 8,374 total indigent households in the City of Guihulngan, 7,564 of them are not PhilHealth members. Only 810 are members.

In Dumaguete City, only 571 of the 3,814 indigent households are PhilHealth members. The 3,243 are not members.

Villapando said that of the almost 3,000 indigent households in the town of Vallehermoso, only 51 of them are PhilHealth members. The P2,938 are not members.

Indigents in the towns of La Libertad and Jimalalud, however, are 100 percent PhilHealth members.

Macias is looking forward to Phino helping LGUs expand beneficiaries so that all residents in the province can avail free hospitalization program.

Unlike PhilHealth, unused fund under the Phino will be rotated to expand the program but members can avail the same with PhilHealth members.

As the enrolment for Phino membership started Monday, Villapando said the P15 million seed fund recently approved by the Provincial Board (PB) can help Provincial Government’s counterpart to LGUs that can put their share for Phino.

PB member Marcelo Adanza, author of the Phino Ordinance, said the Provincial Government will allocate 50 percent as counterpart of LGUs enrolment.

Phino needs P50 million fund to enroll the less than P57,000 indigent households in the province.