TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan (PIA) - - Ensuring that the government’s torch of Universal Health Care remains aflame, PhilHealth Cagayan Valley sets into high gear its Orientation, Accreditation and Registration activities for the KonSulTa Program or the Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama.

Being its latest Primary Care Benefit Package, the KonSulTa takes off from its predecessor with expanded services that includes additional laboratory procedures like electrocardiogram (ECG), chest x-ray and complete blood count (CBC) and array of medicines like anti-diabetes, anti-hypertension and anti-asthma.

In his recent meeting with Governor Dakila Carlos “Dax” E. Cua and heads of Health Care Facilities (HCFs) of Quirino Province, Regional Vice President BGen. Llewellyn R. Binasoy (Ret.) said the COVID pandemic has just reminded us how important health really is and how indiscriminate illnesses and diseases are. In every battle, prevention has always been key.

"Every Filipino deserves this program. Every Filipino deserves this protection. Salamat po at nakita ninyo ang kahalagahan nito para sa bawat (Thank you for seeing its importance for every) Filipino. Kaya po naman dito sa (that is why here in) Region 02 ang ating (our) hashtag is One PhilHealth, One PhilHeart”, Binasoy added.

The Province of Quirino consistently rallied behind its District Hospitals, becoming the First Province in the region with all its managed HFCs as accredited Konsulta Providers. These include Quirino Province Medical Center, Diffun District Hospital, Aglipay District Hospital and Maddela District Hospital.

“Health will always be a Pillar Program of our governance here in Quirino. Throughout the years, we have continually improved our healthcare services and PhilHealth has always been our partner. Hindi natin palalagpasin ang pagkakataong palawakin ang programang pangkalusugan (We will not let the opportunity to expand our healthcare program, pass), especially with PhilHealth as our partner," said Governor “Dax” Cua.

Since May 2022, PhilHealth Regional Office II (PRO II) has become more aggressive in engaging the Local Government Units (LGUs) and private and government HCFs, through its Accreditation and Quality Assurance Section (AQuAS), ReachOut Team and Local Health Insurance Offices (LHIOs). Even after satisfying the targeted number of accredited facilities, PRO II is not keen on slowing down in encouraging more facilities to participate in the KonSulTa, to give members more options to choose as their preferred provider.

Currently, mass member registration and orientation color the four corners of the region, locally dubbed as the “KONSULTA ROADshow (Registration and Onsite Advocacy and Dissemination show): Lahat Rehistrado, Bayan Panalo!”, which is simultaneously conducted by LHIO personnel from the Cities of Tuguegarao, Ilagan, Cauayan and Santiago and Solano, Nueva Vizcaya. 

The KONSULTA ROADshow sets up a One-Stop-Shop where LGUs can facilitate member registration and profiling and where members, partners and stakeholders get to enjoy other PhilHealth services like ID and MDR Printing, payment and verification of contributions, Accreditation assistance for healthcare facilities and professionals and other PhilHealth-related concerns.

It is expected that the KonSulTa ROADshow will later translate to increase in availment of the KonSulTa Package, in the days to come. (ALM/PIA/with reports from Buddy T. de Jesus, PhilHealth Regional Office II)