PhilHealth says: “Pangasinan must lead in Health Dev”

Lingayen- - -“Pangasinan should take the lead in adopting an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development being one of the biggest provinces in the country.”

This was the exhortation made by Dr. Eduardo P. Banzon, President and Executive Officer of Philippine Health (PhilHealth) Insurance Corporation, in a press conference following the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) held June 4 at the Urduja House here between the agency and the province of Pangasinan represented by Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. for a two-year universal enrolment of all indigent families. The MOA amends the previous agreement for a one-year enrolment.

Banzon said that Pangasinan is among the top five provinces nationwide with the most number of indigent families enrolled in PhilHealth, adding that in the next few months, enrolment of more indigents is expected until the universal enrolment among Pangasinenses will be fully attained.

In support of the health care program, Gov. Espino initiated on his first term in 2007, hospital reforms that led to the upgrading of facilities in all the 14 hospitals owned and operated by the provincial government.

PhilHealth enrolment sponsored by the provincial government has dramatically increased from 26,005 in June 2007 to 238,580 in 2011.

“It’s good governance that makes the difference,” Banzon said, referring to new health care service modes now obtaining in Pangasinan.

 The number, according to PhilHealth, keeps growing until universal enrolment covering almost 3 million Pangasinenses will be fulfilled in the next few years.

However, the newly-signed MOA states that with the implementation of the Aquino Health Agenda for Universal Health Care or Kalusugan Pangkalahatan, there is a need to increase the annual premium contribution for the sponsored program to P2, 400 effective January 2012 pursuant to PhilHealth Board Resolution No. 1571.

“Ilan taon na pong P1, 200 ang premium kaya nararapat lamang na itaas ito para mas maibayong benepisyo ang maibigay natin para sa lahat ng miyembro,” the PhilHealth President said.

The MOA signing was witnessed by some members of the provincial board led by Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr. and Daniel F. de Leon, PhilHealth Area Vice President, all chiefs of hospitals and Provincial Administrator Rafael F. Baraan. (PIO/Ruby R. Bernardino)