Solon pushes for more health care service providers
A party-list solon has urged the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to intensify its efforts to enlist accredited service providers for its Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama (Konsulta) package.
AnaKalusugan Party-list Rep. Ray Reyes said this is in order to provide access to primary health care services for PhilHealth members.
Reyes expressed concern over the low number of accredited service providers enrolled in the program and said the number of providers are not enough to cater to PhilHealth members who want to avail of the package.
“Kulang na kulang pa po ang mga providers para maserbisyuhan ang dami ng ating mga PhilHealth members. Sana po paigtingin pa ng Philhealth ang paghikayat sa mga providers na magpa-accredit at maging bahagi ng Konsulta Package program,” Reyes said.
He cited data from PhilHealth showing that as of March 31, 2023, only 1,931 of the required 5,014 Accredited Konsulta Providers have enrolled in the program.
“Napakahalaga po ng proyektong ito ng PhilHealth dahil sa pamamagitan nito mabibigyan natin ng serbisyo ang ating mga kababayan lalo na sa mga lugar na hindi madali ang access sa primary healthcare,” Reyes said.
Under PhilHealth Circular 2020-0022, the Konsulta Package covers individual-based health services including initial and follow-up primary care consultations, health screening and assessment, and access to selected diagnostic services and medicines.
The lawmaker said AnaKalusugan supports the program and underscored the need for the government to provide opportunities for Filipinos to have free access to primary care.
“We want this initiative to succeed because it is fully in line with AnaKalusugan’s vision to make healthcare accessible to Filipinos,” he said.
Reyes, vice chair of the House Committee on Health, earlier filed House Bill 00430 which seeks to give Filipinos free annual medical checkups which includes blood sugar and cholesterol tests.
