DOH Finding Ways to Fulfill Dream of Reducing ‘Out-of-Pocket’ Hospital Expenses of the Poor

The Department of Health (DOH) is continuously finding ways to help reduce the other medical expenses that the poor have to endure in times of hospitalization of their family members.

DOH Secretary Dr. Paulyn Jean B. Rosell-Ubial said they want to ensure that patients needing medical services will not be spending a single peso, including for transportation to and from hospitals, under the “no out-of-pocket” policy of the government.

“No out-of-pocket hospital expenses (for the poor and poorest), that is my dream,” she said.

Dr. Ubial explained that they have to eliminate all possible reasons for poor Filipinos not to seek professional medical attention by having the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) also cover their transportation expenses.

“I asked PhilHealth if it is possible that from a specific barangay, a patient takes, for example, a multi-cab. And upon reaching the hospital, the hospital will pay the multi-cab. The hospital will then charge it to PhilHealth. That is how our health system should be. It is not the patients that should have the transportation problem,” she said.

She added that ideally, the poor patient should not have any financial problem and is assured of all the services that he needs until he gets his medical condition treated as proof of quality health services available for the poor.

The Health Chief said that there should be a “system” that will not only be responsive but will enhance the PhilHealth’s usefulness among the poor.

She also said that such is doable as they already have experienced implementing it in Davao City, specifically at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC).

“What we do there is door-to-door service. They are picked up by the ambulance from their houses, brought to the SPMC. When they are discharged, they are brought back to their houses. That is the kind of service we want to implement all over the Philippines,” the Lady DOH Chief stressed.

She said she has already ordered the conduct of a review of the PhilHealth programs to make these more beneficial to the poorest sectors as what President Rodrigo R. Duterte wants it to be — geared toward helping the poor and gaining better health services.

“We have to review and refine the PhilHealth programs so that these actually improve utilization, availment, and services that are actually geared toward helping the poor,” Dr. Ubial said. (PNA)
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