Stakeholders give nod to health access card

Saturday, January 21, 2012

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Health officials, lawmakers and representatives from various sectors gave their nod on Thursday to the proposed health access card under Ordinance No. 546 authored by Board Member and Provincial Board Committee on Health chairman Monina Laus.

The ordinance calls for the institutionalization of the health access card program of the Provincial Government and aims to provide expanded health services down to the barangay level.

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“The health access card is part of our integrated and comprehensive health care program initiated by our Governor Lilia Pineda. It aims to accord Kapampangans, particularly indigents, affordable medical services,” Laus said.

“The governor wants this implemented soonest. It will complement our effective health care delivery system by allowing the poor to get free hospitalization or discounted rates on essential medical services,” she told Sun.Star Pampanga.

For PhilHealth branch manager Arsenia Torres, the health access card would work hand-in-hand with Capitol’s desire to realize 100 percent coverage.

“It is a very laudable and doable program that is welcome with us at PhilHealth because we desire to have partners in both the national and local governments in our quest for full health coverage, especially the poor,” Torres quipped.

As a form of assistance, she added, PhilHealth will upload into the databases of public hospitals in the province the complete list of indigents as well as establish PhilHealth Desks, like what is being piloted at the Jose B. Lingad Regional Memorial Hospital.

“We hope we could complement your health access card as we both want to extend better and more services to the people of Pampanga,” said Torres.