PhilHealth to assist in Cordillera free surgery program
WITH its goal to ensure a sustainable national health insurance program for all, PhilHealth will assist patients, who lacks funds but in need of surgery, under the Department of Health (DOH) caravan themed, “ToDOH Alaga, May TSekAp na, May Operasyon Pa.”
DOH-Cordillera chief of Licensing, Regulation and Enforcement Division, Doctor Erwin Baclig, the surgical caravan serves as a follow-up on the TSeKaP (Tamang Serbisyo para sa Kalusugan ng Pamilya) program, which aims to provide essential package of healthcare services for the 20 million poorest of the poor in the country.
In the Cordillera region, some 257,308 are identified as poorest of the poor, according to Doctor Clarita Marquez, coordinator of the surgical caravan.
PhilHealth representative Doctor Dominga Gacad reiterated the program will observe the no balance billing policy.
In order to avail of the free surgery, patients will be screened and then determined whether qualified for the program.
Three host hospitals, Benguet General Hospital, Atok District Hospital, and Dennis Molintas District Hospital will ready patients for surgery, after which, the team of doctors will conduct a final clearance for the patients in order to assure the safety of their operation.
The Baguio General Hospital will also be a visiting hospital that will be a part of the surgical caravan.
Host hospitals, according to Gacad, will sponsor the enrollment of patients in PhilHealth in order to avail of the free surgery.
Laboratory fees up to the patient’s discharge will be covered by PhilHealth.
Gacad explained the hospitals must bill PhilHealth which will later ask the Department of Budget Management for funds to bill PhilHealth itself.
According to Baclig, under this program, DOH hopes to provide healthcare, establish service, and improve universal healthcare insurance. The program is also part of the Duterte administration’s Philippine Health Agenda, “all for health towards health.” (Jenny Alexis Caburian/UP Baguio intern)