CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga (Oct. 27, 2023) — About 200 media practitioners were feted with a thanksgiving program by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) at Queen Pia’s Place here yesterday.
The annual Media Social Health Insurance Education Series (SHIneS), Kapihan, and Pasasalamat aims to provide continuous updates on Universal Health Care, Konsulta, and other health benefits and services. It is also the time to engage in dialogs between the press and PhilHealth and at the same time for the former to be shown appreciation by the national health insurer.
This year’s affair, dubbed “PhilHealth at Media, Forever Partners sa Kalusugan,” is a testament to the long-standing relationship between the members of the press and the government health insurer.
Representing Tarlac media were RTV News, DZTC, DWXT, Ups & Downers, Facts & Figures, Insider, Tarlac Informer, Tarlac Forum, News Front, and Tarlakenyo.com.
A thankful PhilHealth.
Dr. Rowena San Mateo, PhilHealth Regional Office III (PRO III) – A Acting Branch Manager, thanked the local press for its role in the various PhilHealth campaigns.
“This pasasalamat is our way of thanking the media because naitutulay ninyo ang kaalaman tungkol sa PhilHealth sa publiko,” San Mateo said.
Edgardo Faustino, former PRO III Acting Vice President also echoed the agency’s appreciation of the media, especially during the pandemic.
“We have a very good relationship with the media. Maraming salamat sa suporta sa PhilHealth.
“The COVID-19 years were the most challenging especially in 2021 when we were heavily criticized – but the media were always objective in their reporting, they coordinated with us and always presented balanced news,” Faustino said.
Universal Health Care (UHC).
“PhilHealth is shifting from curative to preventive. As much as possible, hindi na magkakasakit. Because of the UHC, all are members. If there are issues like yung hindi naka-avail, inform us. Magtulungan tayo so we can effectively deliver to our constituents,” Faustino added.
Monifer Bansil, Public Affairs Unit Head, revealed that as of July 2023, there are 12.2 million PhilHealth registered members and dependents in Central Luzon, representing 95% of the projected 12.89 million population.
“There are also 11 Local Health Insurance Offices (LHIO) and 9 PhilHealth Express in Central Luzon,” Bansil said.
In Tarlac, the LHIO is on the 3rd Floor of My Metro Town Mall, Sto. Cristo, Tarlac City, while the PhilHealth Express is on the 2nd Floor of Robinsons Supermarket, San Miguel, Tarlac City.
PIA Central Luzon’s William Beltran said that “a lot of Filipinos know what PhilHealth is all about.”
“Marami ang hindi nakakaintindi kung ano ang insurance kaya naman nandyan ang PhilHealth na sandigan natin kung magkasakit tayo,” Beltran said.
“Wala ng rason na tiisin natin ang sakit na ating nararandaman dahil sa PhilHealth.”
There are 26 PhilHealth-accredited hospitals and clinics in Tarlac province. For the complete list, click here: https://www.philhealth.gov.ph/partners/providers/institutional/accredited/HOSP_073123.pdf
Hacking incident updates.
According to the PRO III’s Information technology experts, there are no reported data breaches among Central Luzon members. PhilHealth is in the process of recovering all of its systems to provide needed services and intensifying its security measures and risk management.
As of early October, 100% of its external systems are back online: Group Enrollment, Electronic PhilHealth Online Access Form, iCARES, Health Carer Professional portal, Electronic Premium Remittance, member portal, website, and eClaims, among others.
PhilHealth is shifting from curative to preventive.
“Once a year, bisitahin ang ating healthcare provider para sa Konsulta package. Ituring itong birthday checkup,” San Mateo advice.
The Konsulta package is PhilHealth’s primary healthcare program that makes consultation, laboratory tests, and medicines available to the agency’s members. It covers preventive care including consultations, health risk screening and assessment, 13 laboratory tests, and 21 maintenance drugs and medicines.
