LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN—Governor Ramon V. Guico III is determined to bring the province’s ‘Preventive Health Care Program’ to the grassroots level.
Bolstered by the recent approval of the Government Unified Incentives for Medical Consultations (GUICONSULTA) Program ordinance by the provincial board, Gov. Guico personally campaigned for preventive healthcare thrust in various villages in Pangasinan, the most recent of which were in Barangays Cacandongan, Ketegan, Palisoc, Poblacion East, Cabuaan, Nibaliw Norte, and Nibaliw Sur in Bautista town.
As an initial fund, the provincial government will allocate P300 million to implement the GUICONSULTA.
Based on the report of the Provincial Hospital Management Services Office (PHMSO), only around 28,000 Pangasinenses were enrolled in the 14 government hospitals under the Konsulta (Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama) program.
With the minimal turnout of enrollees, Gov. Guico pushes for extra effort to achieve his sights for the enrolment of Pangasinan’s full population.
As an added assistance, the provincial government will soon grant cash incentives for residents who will avail of the program. “Wala ng dahilan para hindi tayo magpa-check up for the preventive health care program of the province dahil dalhin niyo lang po sila sa mga ospital natin at sa mga barangay health station o mga RHU ng mga munisipyo at siyudad, bibigyan po namin sila ng pangkain at ng kanilang pamasahe. Hindi na po dahilan na hindi kami pwedeng magpa-check up dahil wala akong pamasahe at wala kaming pangkain,” Gov. Guico said.
The province is targeting around 650,000 individuals to avail of the Government Unified Incentives for Medical Consultation (GUICONSULTA) Program.
The Konsulta program is a vital initiative aimed at providing preventive healthcare services to PhilHealth members that aim to provide preventive healthcare services under the Universal Health Care Law. This offers a multitude of life-saving benefits that ensure every enrollee access to quality health services.
Under the program, members will be given access to free medical consultations, free health risk screening and assessment, free selected laboratory and diagnostic testing, and free selected drugs and medicines in line with their pre-existing condition.
Hence, PhilHealth members must register with an accredited consult provider of their choice to be eligible and avail of various services. In the case of the province, all 14 government hospitals are accredited providers.
Registration may also be done through self-registration via the member portal at www.philhealth.gov.ph or at any PhilHealth local insurance offices in their area.
(Ruby F. Rayat/PIMRO)
