TSeKaP to Offer 15,300 Free Surgeries Among 20-M Poor

The health department’s Tamang Serbisyo para sa Kalusugan Program (TSeKaP) is set to conduct 15,300 free surgical operations among an estimated 20 million poor Filipinos who need health care services.

Health Secretary Dr. Paulyn Ubial said in an interview that the operations will be done through the surgical caravans launched by the department this week that are targeting those with operable cases.

Ubial said that under TseKaP, health professionals reach out to the poorest of the poor to provide them basic health care services, such as free physical examinations, basic laboratories (blood typing, complete blood count, urinalysis, stool exam, and fasting blood sugar), family planning counseling, and health education.

The program also provides free medicine, first aid kits, dental kits, get-go bags, wheelchairs, and eyeglasses, among others.

As of last January, the top performers in the implementation of TSeKaP was Bicol’s regional health office, which was able to provide services to all identified members of the National Household Targetting System (NHTS), numbering 1.78 million indigents.

It was followed by Western Visayas’ regional health office which reached out to 496,673 indigents, and the Ilocos region’s health office, which aided 494,687 indigents. (LSJ/PNA)