MALASIQUI, Pangasinan – The 14 provincial government-run hospitals in Pangasinan are now eligible to implement the Konsulta package of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) under the Universal Health Care Act following their accreditation.

In a virtual press conference on Tuesday, PhilHealth Ilocos division field operation chief Josephine Quiton said the hospitals can now provide promotive and preventive care to the residents of Pangasinan, aside from the curative and palliative care being provided.

She said other PhilHealth members, such as the formal sector, lifetime members and senior citizens, are also entitled to the benefits under the Konsulta package.

“They should register to the nearest provincial government-run hospitals in their locality. And once they register, they will be covered by that hospital for a year. If they wish to transfer, they have to wait for another year,” she added.

Quiton said the residents have the freedom to choose which provincial government hospital they want to register.

The three ways to register are self-registration, assisted registration through employers, social workers, or the Office of the Senior Citizens Affair, or the auto-registration by PhilHealth.

Marlene Soliba, PhilHealth Ilocos accreditation and quality assurance section chief, said the benefits under the Konsulta package include initial and follow-up checkups with primary care providers, laboratory and diagnostics services, and availing of 21 drugs and medicines.

“All facilities regardless of these are Department of Health (DOH) licensed or not. Residents may avail of health screening and access to diagnostics services and medicines. There are mandatory services depending on age group,” she said.

PhilHealth Circular 2022-0005 sets the implementing guidelines for the PhilHealth Konsulta package to expand the primary care benefit to cover all Filipinos. (PNA)

Source: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1186998