PhilHealth benefit package launched in Bislig City

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

Monday 9th of July 2012

BUTUAN CITY, July 9 (PIA) – To upgrade the health care benefits of members, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) on Thursday launched its Primary Care Benefit 1 (PCB1) Package at Bislig City, Surigao del Sur.

An estimated crowd of 500 convened at the Bislig City Gymnasium and witnessed the event with the presence of Bislig City Mayor Librado Navarro, other officials and guests.

In her speech, Local Health Insurance Office Chief Ms. Juliet Golez of PhilHealth Bislig City said that Bisliganons are lucky enough that PhilHealth has chosen this city, where said program is first launched in Caraga region.

“Bisliganons especially the marginalized should be ready, informed and empowered right before any sickness hit them, and PhilHealth will be there to assist them,” emphasized Golez.

"Health program should be one of the most priority programs of all the local government units in the country because with good health, we can all enjoy life and perform our jobs well, along also with a quality education" Navarro said.

Navarro added that one of his priorities is to have all Bisliganons registered and be members of the PhilHealth. He also congratulated the City Health Office for the well implementation of the Health Care programs.

Based on PhilHealth records, Bislig City, Surigao del Sur has 40,208 total members registered to PhilHealth.

Also, Dr. Leizel Lagrada, Primary Care Benefit 1 Team Leader of PhilHealth briefed the Bisliganons on the 'Primary Care Benefit 1 Package’. She said that this is one of the priority programs of Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III which is aimed to achieve universal health care to all Filipino people who are members of PhilHealth.

"PCB 1 Package is the new set of benefits entitles members to basic, quality health care services through accredited public health care providers nationwide. It allows primary health care providers greater flexibility in the range of services they can offer to their enlisted PhilHealth clients," said Lagrada.

Included in the PCB 1 Package are primary benefits such as consultations, regular blood pressure monitoring and helath promotion like education on breastfeeding, counseling on lifestyle modification and smoking cessation. Medicines for common diseases like asthma and acute gastroenteritis (AGE) with no or mild dehydration, upper respiratory tract infection/pneumonia and urinary tract infection are also included and expected to be provided by the providers of this package.

Meanwhile, Dr. Banzon with Regl Vice Pres. Sychua and other PhilHealth officials handed over the PhilHealth Capitation Fund Checks to gocal government units of Bislig City and Lingig, Surigao del Sur. Bislig City received the amount of P915,600.00 for the 4th quarter of 2011 to fund its health services while Lingig received P927,600.00.

A ceremonial performance commitment & memorandum of agreement (MOA) signing between PhilHealth and the institutional health care providers in Bislig City, and nearby municipalities in Surigao del Sur was also held. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)