QUEZON CITY (PIA)-- The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) works hand-in-hand with the Philippine Information Agency in communicating Universal Health Care and Konsulta services nationwide in a press conference held September 8, 2023.
Philhealth Senior Vice President for Health Finance Policy Sector and Corporate Spokesperson Dr. Israel Pargas emphasized during the briefing that Philhealth, under the UHC Law, is mandated to provide health insurance coverage to all Filipinos.
Spokesperson Pargas said that the agency aims as much as possible for beneficiaries and their dependents to have minimal to no expenses due to the UHC implementation inclusive of preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative and, palliative care.
The Konsulta program encompasses preventive and promotive measures including selected services, laboratory tests and medications depending on doctors’ prescriptions.
Thirteen laboratory procedures covered by the Konsulta program may be prescribed by doctors including blood platelet count, urinalysis, fecalysis, sputum microscopy, fecal occult blood, pap smear, lipid profile, fasting blood sugar, oral glucose tolerance test, chest x-ray, creatinine and, HBA 1C tests.
Twenty-one prescription medicines covered by Philhealth may also prescribed by doctors ranging from selected anti-microbial, fluid & electrolyte, anti-asthma, anti-pyretic, anti-dyslipidemia, anti-diabetic, anti-hypertensive, anti-thrombotic and, anti-histamine drugs.
Philhealth spokesperson Pargas added that as of August 2023, there are around 2,300 accredited Konsulta providers, 300 of which are private clinics.
He said that aside from private health providers, some rural health units and public & private hospitals are also Konsulta-accredited.
“Kami po ang mga nagbabayad nito (services) sa ating mga Konsulta providers. Kung ang mga serbisyo po na ibibigay sa inyo ay nandoon sa listahan, hindi niyo po kailangan magbayad. Kung may mga serbisyo po na wala sa listahan, iyon po ang kailangan nating bayaran,” Spokesperson Pargas adds.
Pargas added that beneficiaries must first register with local Philhealth Offices or online at www.philhealth.gov.ph in order to avail Konsulta services.
