DOH starts health insurance campaign

Thursday, January 20, 2011

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — The Department of Health (DOH) has started its massive insurance campaign in Central Luzon this week.

During his first visit here, Health Secretary Enrique Ona launched the “Universal Health Coverage” that seeks to provide free medical care to all Filipinos through PhilHealth.

Have something to report? Tell us in text, photos or videos.

“The target of the Aquino administration is that all Filipinos be covered by a form of health insurance,” Ona said during a meeting with health officials from Central Luzon.

His visit to the region on Monday was the start of a series of regional and provincial hopping to stress President Benigno Aquino III’s health agenda.

“Our department was tasked to ensure that Filipinos will realize the importance of enrolling themselves to Philhealth as well as advocating to the stakeholders specifically the local government units (LGUs) to sponsor the enrollment of their constituents especially the indigents,” Ona said.

P100 per month

Under the PhilHealth insurance program, a member pays a monthly contribution of P100. This contribution fee assures the member and his dependents of lesser hospital fees if anyone of them gets hospitalized.

Moreover, the National Government has allotted funds to the enrolment of about P5.2 million poor Filipinos to the insurance program.

Ona said they will work closely with the Department of Social Welfare and
Development in identifying poor indigents and ensuring that basic social services as well as the provision of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) will be provided to them.

“We will also reach out to marginalized sectors of our society such like those located in Gida or geographically isolated and depressed areas,” Ona said.

Ona added they will synchronize their efforts in improving health facilities and will try to restructure the licensing and accreditation process of health facilities so more facilities can comply with the requirements of PhilHealth.

Dr. Rio Magpantay, regional director of the DOH in Central Luzon, said they will help in pursuing health programs of the Aquino administration.

Meanwhile, Ona has also visited the Tarlac Provincial Hospital (TPH) to inspect the ongoing construction of a new building there. The TPH is envisioned to be one of the premier hospitals in the region delivering the best of quality health care.(Charlene Cayabyab)