THE Davao Medical School Foundation (DMSF) Hospital will be the first private hospital in the Philippines which will be giving Philippine Health Insurance Company (PHIC) or Philhealth benefit in 2019.

"(Ang) Outpatient ngayon (ang) may Philhealth is only the government hospitals, ngayon tayo (DMSF Hospital) ang mauuna sa entire Philippines na mag ki-cater ng outpatient benefit," DMSF president Jonathan Alegre said.

Alegre said the program will start around February 2019.

Philhealth Davao public relations officer 2 Kleah Gayle Dublin-Guevara said in an interview with Sunstar Davao Monday, December 17, that the outpatient division of the hospital will initially cater to around 1,500 registered PHIC members.

He said PhilHealth members who can avail of the outpatient benefits in DMSF hospital are only those who are registered in their hospital.

Alegre added that the outpatient department of DMSF hospital is still under renovation as requested by PhilHealth president Roy Ferrer.