DOH urges LGUs to enrol informal sector workers with Philhealth

Wednesday 1st of February 2012

TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte, Feb. 01 (PIA) -- Department of Health assistant secretary Dr. Romulo Busuego called on local government units to enroll with the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PHIC) those working in the underground economy.

Dr. Busuego made the call noting that some of those working in the informal sector have yet to acquire health insurance.

While the national government has targeted poor Filipinos identified in the National Household Targeting System (NHTS), househelps, salesclerks, tricycle drivers, vendors and the like have yet to enroll with Philhealth.

“Dapat impose talaga yan. Malaking tulong ang Philhealth insurance coverage. (This should be imposed. Philhealth insurance coverage is a great help),” he said in an interview.

In its bid to achieve 100 percent Philhealth insurance coverage through the Universal Healthcare, the national government is covering 10. 5 million poor families with annual income of P3,600, Dr. Busuego said.

To cover those working in the informal sector, Dr. Busuego encouraged local government units to enroll them, and to require those engaging in informal businesses to enroll with Philhealth.

Philhealth Insurance coverage is one of the priority concerns of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III.

In his speech during the Mindanao Cancer Center inauguration, the President announced the quadruple increase in budget for health insurance premiums from P3.5 billion in 2011 to P12 billion this year. (PIA-11/ Jeanevive Duron-Abangan)