Indigent Filipinos whose membership to the government's national health insurance program (NHIP) were paid for by various sponsors, including the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Senators, Congressmen, Governors and mayor's, received medical benefits totaling more than P1.6 billion in 2004.
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This was disclosed yesterday by Secretary Francisco T. Duque III, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), which administers the government's National Health Insurance Program, as he stressed the importance of continuing the PhilHealth plans for the poor Filipinos.
"At present, 30 million of the 61 million PhilHealth members are poor Filipinos covered by PhilHealth under its various plans and there is a need to continue them in keeping with the pro-poor program of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to be able to ensure the health needs of our poor and indigent countrymen," Secretary Duque stressed.
Duque said that as of November 2004 alone, medical claims payment for the poor Filipinos under the PhilHealth'a "Enhanced PCSO-Chapter Medicare Access Program" totaled P496,681,016.59 while those under the regular program for the poor totaled P1,019,579,853.47 or a total of P1.516 billion.
By December last year, the medical claims payment for the indigents, which covered operation, treatment, professional fees and medicines, was projected to reach P1.6 billion to P1.7 billion, said Duque, whose achievements and performance as PhilHealth chief prompted his promotion to Cabinet rank by President Arroyo.
Secretary Duque admitted for the first time that the financial crisis facing the government may affect the PhilHealth program for the poor and indigents, adding that the annual membership sponsored and paid for the poor Filipinos will end by May.
“This, however, will not deter us from continuing with the PhilHealth pro-poor plans," Duque stressed as he appealed to last year's sponsoring national government agencies, senators, congressmen and local government executives to continue their sponsorship of indigent Filipinos.
At the same time, Duque urged the big business corporations, foundations, philanthropic individuals and civic organizations to sponsor more indigent families into the PhilHealth programs, which now cover more than 2,000 hospitals and clinics all over the country.
Earlier, President Arroyo directed PhilHealth under Presidential Proclamation No. 743 to tap all efforts to mobilize funds for the enrollment of as many persons who cannot afford to pay premium contributions to PhilHealth.
Arroyo also directed local government units (LGUs) to undertake the enrollment of indigent families in their own localities to the PhilHealth's Sponsored Program.
Duque hailed the President's proclamation, saying "this will greatly help us in achieving our goal of universal coverage and I am thankful that we have been receiving valuable support from all sectors of society." –PIA/CAR
