SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go urged the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to expand free medical check-ups and consultations under its Comprehensive Outpatient Benefits Package.

This, after the approval of his proposed special provision under the PhilHealth budget which specifies the use of the PhP21 billion budget for the expansion of benefit packages under the Universal Health Care Act, as reflected in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2023.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act No. 11936 or 2023 GAA in a ceremony attended by Go at the Malacañang Palace on December 16.

“I commend the adoption of my proposed special provision under the PhilHealth budget. I earlier proposed that this budget should be used for the expansion of free dialysis coverage, mental health outpatient coverage, the implementation of the comprehensive outpatient benefit package, including free medical check-ups and other increases in benefit packages,” said Go.

“Regalo na natin iyan sa ating mga kababayan ngayong Pasko tungo sa Bagong Taon,” he added.

The senator also commended the state insurer for prioritizing his proposal to provide free medical check-ups to all Filipinos through the Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama (Konsulta) Package.

Services offered in PhilHealth Konsulta are medical check-ups, health screening and assessment, laboratory and diagnostic in select clinics, and select medicines.

The senator, who serves as Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, then encouraged all Filipinos to take advantage of the said program and register through the PhilHealth website or visit the nearest PhilHealth Local Health Insurance Office in their communities.

“Isinulong ko po free medical check-up para sa ating mga kababayan. Parte ito ng Universal Health Care. Mahalaga ang early detection para hindi na lumala ang sakit. Ang problema, marami sa ating mga kababayan ang takot o walang budget para sa check-up,” noted the senator.

“Sa Konsulta program, sagot ng PhilHealth ang pagpapa-check-up o lab test sa ating mga Philhealth-accredited health facility, dapat na itong ma-implementa ng buo at maayos,” he continued.

Meanwhile, the lawmaker also continues to push for an increase in dialysis benefit coverage of PhilHealth to cover costs of dialysis treatments, sessions, and procedures done in PhilHealth accredited-health facilities.

“Maraming lumalapit sa aking opisina para sa dialysis. It is the reason why I filed Senate Bill No. 190 mandating PhilHealth to fully cover all costs of dialysis treatments, sessions and procedures done in PhilHealth accredited-health facilities,” Go cited.

“Pero kung kaya naman itong i-implement ng PhilHealth ngayon at sa susunod na taon, mas mabuti,” he added.

In line with his priorities to enhance the health sector of the country and to ensure that health services are more accessible to all, especially those financially incapacitated, Go also filed bills establishing the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and Virology Institute of the Philippines; Advanced Nursing Education Bill; a bill establishing an Emergency Medical Services System; a measure providing benefits and compensation to Barangay Health Workers; and a bill which seeks to establish Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Centers nationwide.

He then renewed his appeal to all concerned agencies to make sure that there are adequate funding to support mental health programs, especially during these unprecedented times.

“Unahin natin palagi ang kalusugan ng bawat isa. Hindi natin alam kung kailan ang susunod na pandemya pero mas mabuti nang handa tayo. Naging eye-opener sa atin ang pagdating ng COVID-19 kaya huwag na sana maulit pa yung hindi tayo naging handa at napuno ang mga hospital natin,” Go appealed.

“Sa abot ng aking makakaya, patuloy lang din akong susuporta at magmumungkahi ng mga programa para mas lalo pang palakasin ang health sector ng bansa. Magtulungan lang ho tayo at malalagpasan din natin ang krisis na ito,” he encouraged.