DOH Readies Philhealth Registration Day in Bikol

LEGAZPI CITY, Sept. 27- Preparations for the massive registration on Oct. 2 for the government's health program, dubbed "PhilHealth Sabado," has been in full swing in Bikol.

The Department of Health (DOH) over the weekend started conducting orientation and organizational meeting in Masbate and Sorsogon to ensure success of the program.

In Masbate, some 46,9000 families identified by the Department of Social Welfare and Development as the "poorest of the poor" are targeted for the day-long weekend registration.

The DOH and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (Philhealth) have tapped the support of various government agencies and non-government organizations (NGOs) there for the event billed as "Nationwide Philhealth Registration Day" with a battle cry "PhilHealth Sabado, Magseguro, Magparehistro", the PIA report said.

In a briefing late last week, Norlinda Castillo of Philhealth told representatives of various agencies and NGOs that the registration was part of the government's efforts under the administration of President Benigno S.Aquino III to provide health care coverage to the country's poor at least within three years.

The national government will shoulder the cost of coverage of PhilHealth contributions of each poor family amounting to about P1,200 per year, Castillo was quoted as saying.

The information agency said the DOH and PhilHealth were drumming into public awareness the registration so that the targeted numberof registrants were informed of the date and venue of the registration for them not to miss it.

Pedro Lee, the DOH's representative who oversees the preparations for the PhilHealth Sabado said they also intend to enlist the self-employed who would be invited to avail of the PhilHealth coverage under its individual paying program.

During registration under this program, Lee said that since self-employed persons or any other else who does not belong to the poor as identified by the DSWD are financially capable of paying for their premium contributions, "we encourage them to present any valid identification card and pay P300 as one quarter premium payment".

To date, PhilHealth has about 20 million registered principal members nationwide, 3.42 million of which are individually paying members, he said.

The DILG, on the other hand, is engaging local chief executives in the enrollment of indigents identified by the DSWD in their respective jurisdictions, while the DepEd helps conduct Information Education Campaign (IEC) among parents through their Parent-Teachers Association (PTA) to encourage them to register and become Philhealth members.

DOH regional director for Bicol Nestor Santiago said that the registration was a nationwide campaign to make millions of Filipinos covered by the government's health insurance program.

It aims to ensure that everybody particularly the poor gains access to financial protection for their hospitalization needs, Santiago said.

All regional and service offices of PhilHealth as well as the DOH's Centers for Health Development and DOH-retained hospitals nationwide have been identified as access points for the registration activity. Other registration venues will be announced as soon as these are confirmed with the Department of Education (DepEd) and with participating local government units. (PNA)