BY: RIZALIE A. CALIBO
SIQUIJOR, Aug 17 (PIA)—Some 17,028 indigents from all six towns in this province recently received free PhilHealth cards.
Siquijor town got the biggest number of 4,337 beneficiaries, followed by Lazi, 4,282 and San Juan, 3,523.
Maria got 2,049, Larena, 1,462 and Enrique Villanueva, 1,375 beneficiaries.
Philhealth-Siquijor branch head Marisa Winkler said the distribution is an initiative to fulfil President Aquino’s target of providing universal healthcare to the below average bracket of the Filipino families.
The government will pay P2,200 per member beneficiary per year, Winkler said as she said encouraged all members to maximize availment of the benefits.
She said free Philhealth cardholders are entitled to a zero-billing policy in Philhealth-accredited hospitals. Presently, PhilHealth has accredited 95 percent of the hospitals nationwide.
Winkler noted that a number of the Philhealth members did not avail of the services during and after hospitalization due to lack of information about Philhealth and its program.
To address this concern, she said, the government thru Philhealth and the Department of Health (DOH) launched the “ALAGA Ka” program.
“ALAGA ka” program is a joint campaign between Philhealth and the DOH that is geared towards providing Philhealth members enlisted in the DSWD’s Listahan information on the different aspects of Philhealth and the National Health Insurance Program.
They will be informed of the benefits they can avail of and they will be educated about their responsibilities and obligations, adds Winkler.
Winkler always advises the Philhealth members to take care of their cards and keep their members data records (MDRs) updated and easily accessible.
This is because Philhealth cards and MDRs are the basic requirements to avail of the benefits, she said.
Provincial governor Zaldy Villa, the local chief executive of each town, the Philhealth branch head, the DSWD graced the distribution of the health cards in each municipality.
For inquiries and more information, Philhealth office is ready to serve the public from Monday to Friday at 8:00a.m to 5:00p.m. It is located at the first floor of the Municipal Hall of Siquijor town. (mbcn/RAC/PIA7-Siquijor w/ reports from IAAbatayo)