CALAMBA CITY (PIA) — More Filipinos in the Calabarzon region are expected to have better access to healthcare services under the state’s health insurance program, Social Health Insurance Education Series (SHinES).
Through SHinES, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) in partnership with local government units will bring an awareness campaign on the state insurer’s National Health Insurance Program.
SHInES is a continuing campaign of PhilHealth to spread awareness of the benefits, programs, and services of the NHIP. It also aims to emphasize the role of mayors in delivering health services in their locality.
In a forum held recently, local chief executives from Laguna and Quezon towns expressed their support for the SHinES, and vowed to help the state-run health insurance corporation explain benefits to its constituents.
Majayjay Mayor Romeo Amorado emphasized in his message that as LCEs, they need to encourage constituents to enroll as PhilHealth member not with the intention to avail of their benefits but to help others in their hospitalization needs.
“Huwag na nating isipin na gamitin (para sa sarili) ang ating PhilHealth, bagkus ay nakakatulong ang ating premium na naibabayad sa mas nakararaming mas nangangailangan,” Amorado said.
Paete Mayor Ronald Cosico also supported the program and urged his fellow public servants to push for the improvement of local health sector.
“Panahon na para maging una at priority ang pondo para sa health. Nabigla tayo sa pandemya, hindi alam ang gagawin. Pero kung tayo ay handa at tututukan natin ito, hindi tayo matatakot. At sana’y ito ang binibigyan ng pansin ng ating mga kasamahang local chief executives,” Cosico stressed.
He expounded that when he was a councilor and then administrator of Paete LGU, they were getting capitation from PhilHealth which they used to sustain the medicines they were providing to their constituents. He added that with the PhilHealth Konsulta, Filipinos can be assured of preventive services in the accredited RHUs in Paete.
Panukulan, Quezon Mayor Alfred Rigor Mitra said their LGU also prioritizes health programs with the help of PhilHealth, believing that productivity relies on the health and wellbeing of their people. He thanked PhilHealth for its program, underlining his hope for improved access to healthcare services in Quezon.
According to PhilHealth, SHInES came about as a response to the call for universal health care coverage towards making every Filipino an advocate of social health insurance (SHI).
PhilHealth added that this is the first step towards inculcating awareness, appreciation, and understanding of the role that SHI plays in the lives of Filipinos. (PB/PhilHealth)
