Philhealth to steer ‘ALAGA KA’ in Davao del Sur

STA. CRUZ, Davao del Sur, Oct. 09 -- Philhealth is set to propel its fourth course of a multi-sectoral campaign dubbed as Alaga Ka: Para sa Maayos Na Buhay, on October 10 at the Municipal Gym of Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur.

Alaga Ka has been in the forefront for the previous months with Philhealth and its partner agency, the Department of Health (DOH) taking the lead of introducing the government’s initiative through enrollment and automatic coverage of the poor to the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP).

Under this program, Philhealth endeavors to provide the poor greater access to health care services by expanding its benefits coverage, highlighting the TseKap package which covers primary care services such as consultation, free diagnostic tests and medicines for selected illnesses.

Other services are the Maternity Care Package to reduce maternal mortality ratio and No Balance Billing policy wherein indigent members are spared from out of pocket expenses when availing of benefits in government hospitals, among others.

Around 300 indigent participants are expected to attend the activity and receive their Member Data Records (MDRs) while being oriented on how, where and when to use these.

Simultaneously, they will be recipients of various medical services including free check up, consultation and pneumococcal vaccine.

The program will also include formal turnover of the Per Family Payment (PFP) worth Eight Hundred Thousand Pesos to the municipality as subsidy for the expenses of providers for the TseKap package in the area.

The local health office shall spearhead the profiling and enlistment of members to help identify the nearest health center or rural health unit where they assigned in.

According to Philhealth, it seeks to saturate the coverage of those who benefit from the program, especially indigents who are enrolled under the Sponsored Program but have little to no access and knowledge of their entitlements as members.

Through the series of Alaga Ka ground activities, Philhealth is able to maneuver a strategic information drive to empower the poor in the region. (PHIC-PRO XI/Kleah Dublin)