DOH Proposing To The Next Administration: Make Philhealth Enrollment On Individual Basis

Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Janette L. Garin is proposing to the next administration to consider making enrollment or membership in the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) on individual basis.

“I will be happy if the next administration will make the enrollment (in PhilHealth) on individual basis because that is the only time that we are going to identify the ‘missed members’ of the population,” the Health chief said.

She noted that at present, membership in PhilHealth is only for every family, meaning the household member or head of the family that pays premium for PhilHealth is the principal member and his/her children are the listed dependents.

Secretary Garin that they will include the proposal in a book they will present to next DOH head who will be appointed by the incoming administration.

According to her, through PhilHealth enrollment on individual basis, it will be easier for the government to identify the targets while determining at the same time the actual figures as part of the continuing reforms and efforts needed in the full attainment of the goals of the Universal Health Care or Kalusugang Pangkalahatan (KP) program.

“That is the only time wherein we can say that truly, there is universal health coverage in the country,” the lady Health chief said, adding that the book that will be compiled will be turned over to the next DOH chief to ensure that health programs that have already been put in place will be sustained and enhanced further.

With the creation of individual enrollment, the database and information system and protection of PhilHealth from being taken advantage of, aside from preventing the fruits of the Sin Tax law that pay the premiums of indigents and senior citizens from being abused, Garin said.

She further said that the next administration can also move forward with the proposal for a reduction of out-of-pocket expenditures on the part of patients who are also needing much attention as part of the goal of enhancing and expanding the access to universal healthcare.

Out-of-pocket expenditures take place as the patient gets the burden of spending due to the lack of medicines, reagents and ancillary procedures in some government hospitals where PhilHealth is supposed to make reimbursement.

Dr. Garin said that making PhilHealth an entity capable or having the power to procure commonly-used medicines for hospital procedures can help reduce the out-of-pocket expenditures.

“There is no perfect program, but what is best for all of us is to assess each program, accept windows where improvement can be done, and start working,” she said.

Garin, a practicing obstetric gynecologist before her appointment as Health secretary, also first served as undersecretary of DOH.

Prior to that, she was considered as one of the champions in the Reproductive Health Rights of Filipinos when she was still in the House of Representatives because of her passion for public health, understanding the plight of the elderly, pregnant women and less privileged sector.

She was known to be a lady legislator who pushed for health measures that led to better health for all such as the Magna Carta for Women, Cheaper Medicines Act, and Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law.

The recommendations were among the enhancements that she shared when she was asked to talk about the milestones and remaining gaps of the Kalusugang Pangkalahatan (KP) program implemented by the Aquino government through the DOH in a forum held recently at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) Conference Room in Makati City.

The forum tackled the health state of Filipinos in order to identify the gaps and how to address them as the country starts moving forward for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

In mentioning the milestones, Secretary Garin cited several programs that were put in place, such as pneumococcal vaccination among senior citizens, school-based immunization of children, boosting of blood centers as one of the strategies to help reduce the stigma for HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) testing, decongesting Metro Manila hospitals by bringing closer the health facilities and equipment to make them accessible to provinces, PhilHealth coverage of indigents and seniors, health facilities enhancement program, and rolling out of different programs.

She explained that while the DOH has increased the utilization of PhilHealth benefits from the previous level, it was not enough because of the remaining gaps between the national government and the local government units (LGUs) in the implementation of health programs.

According to her, the attitude or thinking that providing health services to the people is only the responsibility of the DOH should be changed.

“Convergence is the name of the game because health is a matter that cuts across all sectors,” she stressed.

On top of it all, she emphasized her reminder that convergence and involvement of all sectors is important to achieve better health outcomes as well as unified leadership that will not reverse the RPRH and the Sin Tax laws which, she said, should never be watered down nor be bargained but instead be enhanced further.

The forum also aimed to share ideas and get recommendations that can help shape the health agenda of the next administration in order to sustain the gains of UHC and move forward to enhance them for better healthcare of the Filipinos. (PNA) SCS/LSJ