Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-NCR Regional Director, Jail Chief Superintendent Clint Russel A. Tangeres (front row, center) and PhilHealth PRO NCR and Rizal Vice President, Dr. Bernadette C. Lico (front row, 2R) lead the signing of Memorandum of Understanding for the rollout of the Konsulta Program in jail detention facilities in Metro Manila together with Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary for Public Safety Serafin P. Barreto, Jr. (front row, 2L), among others. (Photo by: PIA-NCR)
QUEZON CITY, (PIA) – The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has partnered with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) to bring the Konsulta program directly to persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) in Metro Manila.
This partnership was formalized through a signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the PhilHealth Regional Office National Capital Region (PRO NCR), including Rizal, and BJMP NCR.
The Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama benefit package, better known as the Konsulta program, will primarily address the uneven patient-doctor ratio in jail detention facilities in Metro Manila which currently stands at 1:12 or 1 doctor per 12 jail facilities.
At present, there are only 3 doctors who are looking after the health of approximately 25,000 PDLs in the 38 jail detention facilities in NCR.
Given the vulnerability of PDLs to different communicable diseases and other health risks due to jail congestion, the need to have the right number of health workforce and healthcare services is important in order to maintain healthy living conditions in detention facilities.
Through the Konsulta Program, PDLs will have access to free medical check-ups with a primary care professional as well as to various outpatient benefits including 53 select medications and 15 types of laboratory tests.
The rollout of this program in detention facilities will also pave the way for the promotion of preventive health among PDLs through primary care services that can help them achieve improved health outcomes.
PhilHealth recently increased the budget per patient rate of the Konsulta program from P500 to P1,700 with the goal of extending healthcare coverage to more Filipinos.
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PhilHealth’s Konsulta now offers more than 3x budget per patient
On the other hand, the registration of the active personnel of BJMP to the Konsulta program of PhilHealth also forms part of this partnership towards the further advancement of Universal Health Care (UHC).
“Nagpapasalamat kami sa PhilHealth dahil binaba nila yung programa nila sa amin na napakalaking tulong sa aming personnel, lalong lalo na sa mga PDLs [We thank PhilHealth for extending the (Konsulta) program which offers significant assistance to our personnel, especially to PDLs),” said BJMP-NCR Regional Director, Jail Chief Superintendent Clint Russel A. Tangeres.
PhilHealth PRO NCR and Rizal Vice President, Dr. Bernadette C. Lico, meanwhile emphasized the commitment of the state insurer in fulfilling the vision of “no one is left behind” when it comes to health.
“Gusto po namin maisakatuparan ang Universal Health Care, lalong lalo na ang Konsulta program sa mga PDL ng BJMP pati na rin ang kanilang active personnel [We want to achieve Universal Health Care, especially (through) the Konsulta program, for the PDLs of the BJMP as well as their active personnel),” said Lico.
This multi-sector partnership in improving the access of PDLs to essential healthcare services is the first of its kind in the Philippines.
As of September 2024, there are 452 accredited Konsulta package providers in NCR with 617 doctors rendering medical services.
Joint Administrative Order on the Promotion and Protection of Health in Jails
The partnership between PhilHealth and BJMP is built upon the Joint Administrative Order signed on July 15, 2024 to enable the promotion and protection of health in jails, prisons, custodial facilities, and other places of detention across the nation.
Aside from the PhilHealth and BJMP, the signatories of the said JAO include the Department of Justice (DOJ), Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Department of Health (DOH) to unite efforts in catering to the healthcare needs of PDLs, persons under PNP custody (PUPCs), and detention personnel.
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Easier access to healthcare services await PDLs
DILG Undersecretary for Public Safety Serafin P. Barreto, Jr., who witnessed the MOU signing between PhilHealth NCR and BJMP NCR, underscored the need to prioritize the right to health of PDLs which will facilitate the translation of UHC into reality.
“Napakahalaga po nitong ugnayan na ito sa pagkamit ng objective ng ating pamahalaan na mabigyan ng tulong ang ating PDLs, lalong lalong na sa aspeto ng kalusugan (This partnership is beneficial in achieving the government’s objective to extend help to PDLs, especially in the aspect of healthcare),” said Barreto, citing the initiative of bringing healthcare services closer to all Filipino PLDs nationwide. (JMP/PIA-NCR)
