The Department of Health (DOH) in Central Visayas has ramped up efforts to educate the public about the benefits that they can enjoy under the Republic Act 11223 or the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act.
Dr. Sophia Mancao, DOH-7 assistant regional director, said on Tuesday they strengthened the information drive about the law as the national government has aimed to fully implement UHC within six years since its passage in 2018.
“Ang atong tumong ani nga mahatagan nato ang katawhan, ilabi na ang kaigsuonan natong kabus, nga mahaatan og pagtagad ang ilang kahimtang sa panglawas (Our goal is that we can give attention to the people’s, especially the poor’s, health condition),” Mancao said in a press briefing.
She said every Filipino should know that through membership in the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), they can avail of free medical services, like basic accommodation, X-ray, and laboratory tests.
The law, she said, mandated that every Filipino must automatically become a member of PhilHealth.
“As long as you are a Filipino, you can avail of the medical and health services,” she said.
There are, however, patients who would be made to pay a minimal amount of the hospital bill but, Mancao said, most of the services would not entail payments once the patient is enrolled with PhilHealth and the services availed are covered.
She added that medicines are also free once availed of at the Rural Health Units (RHUs) or nearest health centers.
DOH-7 regional director Jaime Bernadas urged the people in the Visayas to visit their RHU to register with the PhilHealth as an “indirect member” if they are not a member yet or employed and registered with the health insurance company under the name of their employers.
An indirect member, he said, is an individual who could not afford to pay the monthly premium and can become a member even without paying anything.
Those who want to avail of the UHC program may look at the lists of medical and health services that are for free and those that have corresponding rates at a very minimal amount. (PNA)
