TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan (PIA) -- The Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama or 'Konsulta' service program of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) can now be accessed in coastal and island towns of Cagayan Valley Region.

Regional Vice President Llwelyn Binasoy said 102 Konsulta providers were already established in the different municipalities as of January, of which 32 are in Cagayan, 42 in Isabela, 15 in Nueva Vizcaya, nine in Quirino, and four in Batanes. 

He said the number of healthcare service providers in remote communities is also increasing, particularly in the island province of Batanes, and in the coastal communities of Cagayan and Isabela, which are geographically distant from hospitals and clinics.

"There will be more Konsulta providers that will be accredited soon. Some are still satisfying the requirements to be accredited but we target all municipalities, especially in the remote areas, to have their respective Konsulta facilities," Binasoy said. 

Binasoy said the Konsulta program is a comprehensive outpatient benefit mandated under the Universal Health Care Law wherein members will be given access to free medical consultations, free health risk screening and assessment, free selected laboratory and diagnostic testing, and free selected drugs and medicines in line with their pre-existing condition.