Over 1,000 poor Legazpi residents register for on-site konsulta program of Philhealth

By Cet Dematera

LEGAZPI City --- At least 1,200 indigent residents here who are senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWD), members of women organizations, and beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in this city have registered to the On-site Konsulta program of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Phil-health) Bicol in order to avail of free health care services and medicines from the government.

Legazpi City Mayor Geraldine Rosal; Israel Francis Pargas, Senior Vice-President for Special Assignment on Universal Health Care (UHC) Policy Development; and, Henry Almanon, Phil-health Regional Vice-president for Bicol, lead the launching ceremony of the program last Wednesday at the Legazpi City Convention Center.

Rosal said that she is very thankful to the Phil-Health for choosing Legazpi as a model city for the On-Site Konsulta Program that will pave the way those identified members of the indigent sectors to avail the free health care services from the government.

Under the program, indigent recipients could avail of free medical checkups and other health care services, and free medicines from the partner hospitals of Philhealth in Legazpi City.

“I am very grateful to the Phil-health for choosing Legazpi as a model city for their E-Konsulta program as part of the implementation of the Universal Health Care program of the government,” Rosal added.

She said that those Legazpinos who were registered already from the E-Konsulta Program could proceed to the City health Office or to the Legazpi City Hospital anytime to avail of free medical checkup and medicines.

Almanon on his part said that On-Site Konsulta is part of the Phil-health Program in partnership with the Local Government Unit of Legazpi and the Department of Health (DOH) Bicol to give health care services to the people as mandated by UHC Law.

He added that Phil-health through the E-Konsulta program is offering a free medical consultation and case management as well as individual health education, assistance to partner facilities and referral to higher levels of health care.

Almanon said that the program through the CHO and LCH is offering 13 kinds of laboratory services and medicines for anti-microbial and fluid and electrolytes, such as anti-ashma, antipyretics, anti-dyslipidemia, anti-diabetic, anti- hypertensive, anti-thrombotics and anti-histamine.