SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro (PIA) – The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) plans to boost its information campaign to raise public awareness of health care packages available to Filipinos.
Lawyer Jerry Ibay, Regional Vice President of PhilHealth MIMAROPA, said the agency eyes to put up informative tarpaulins and IEC materials in key locations, as the lack of knowledge about the agency’s health care packages prevents its members from maximizing their health benefits.
“I’ve been going around also, and ang sabi sa akin [ng mga nakausap ko], hindi nila alam [ang mga benepisyo] o sometimes, hindi raw alam ‘yong PhilHealth na programa…o nalimutan na nila,” he explained.
[I have been going around also, and some of the people I have talked to said they do not know the benefits, sometimes, they do not even know what PhilHealth is, or they have forgotten.]
PhilHealth Local Health Insurance Officers (LHIOs) stationed in each province in the region also conduct information and education campaigns at the barangay level, in partnership with the Barangay Local Government Unit (BLGU), to inform the people at the grassroots about the government’s free health services.
“Tintiyak namin na malaman nila kung ano ang mga bagong benepisyo at kung ano pa ang pwede nilang ma-avail sa PhilHealth para hindi sila makatot [na magpagamot],”
[We want to make sure that people learn about the new benefits and other packages they can avail from PhilHealth to dismiss the fear of getting medical treatment.]
Ibay also emphasized the vital role of the LGUs in encouraging the people to take advantage of their PhilHealth benefits, such as the Konsulta (Konsultasyong Sulit Tama) program.
“[Ang] LGU po which also plays an important role, is supposed to disseminate and entice people mag pacheck up kayo, magpatingin kayo sa doktor, [kung halimbawang] masakit ang ngipin niyo, magpunta kayo sa Konsulta provider ninyo para mairefer kayo sa dentist,” he said.
(The LGU, which plays an important role, is supposed to disseminate and entice the people to consult with doctors. For example, if they need dental treatment, they can go to their Konsulta provider who will refer them to a dentist.)
To know more about PhilHealth’s health care packages, you may visit the nearest PhilHealth office in your area or check their website at https://www.philhealth.gov.ph/benefits/. (DSG/PIA MIMAROPA-Occidental Mindoro)
