Bulakenyos receive primary health care services from PhilHealth

CITY OF MALOLOS – Over 4,000 Bulakenyos from the five districts of Bulacan have been granted access to primary health care services after receiving their own Member Data Record (MDR) from The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) during the “Launching of Alaga Ka Program” held in Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium in this city yesterday.

PhilHealth spearheaded the program in coordination with the Provincial Government of Bulacan in an aim to inform and educate Bulakenyos regarding the benefits that members can avail upon enrolling for their membership.

According to Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Rowena Joson-Tiongson, PhilHealth through the National Household Targeting System conducted the selection of beneficiaries in the province wherein 150 people where chosen to represent each 21 municipalities and 300 beneficiaries each where selected from the City of Malolos and towns of Pulilan and Plaridel.

PhilHealth Social Insurance Officer Angelika Del Mundo said that members are entitled to free preventive services such as consultation, visual inspection, regular BP measurements, breastfeeding program education, periodic clinical breast examinations, counselling for lifestyle modification, counselling for smoking cessation, body measurements and digital rectal examination.

Members can also avail free diagnostic examinations like complete blood count, urinalysis, fecalysis, sputum microscopy, fasting blood sugar, lipid profile and chest x-ray. They can also utilize their membership when purchasing drugs and medicines for asthma including nebulization services, AGE with no mild dehydration, URTI/pneumonia with minimal or low risk and UTI.

Furthermore, PhilHealth Social Officer Mary Rose Cruz added that PhilHealth services can be used unlimitedly for childbirth though only the spouse, parent or child can be allowed to claim the benefits on behalf of the member or depending on who were declared in the MDR.

Governor Wilhemino M. Sy-Alvarado and Vice Governor Daniel R. Fernando expressed their support and reminded Bulakenyos of the importance of having a good health.

“Pangalagaan natin ang ating kalusugan sapagkat ito ang ating puhunan sa paghahanap-buhay. Malaking tulong ang benepisyo ng Philhealth subalit huwag naman sana magamit sa mga ‘di kanais-nais na pangyayari,” Alvarado said.

Alvarado also mentioned about the continuous upgrading of district hospitals to provide quality health care to Bulakenyos.

“Kaya naman atin ding binibigyan pansin ang pagsasaayos ng ating mga district hospitals at pagdadagdag ng mga facilities para patuloy na mabigyan ang ating mga kababayan ng sapat na serbisyo base sa kanilang pangangailangan,” the governor added.

Senator Cynthia Villar also graced the event as the guest speaker, where she announced the Universal Health Care Bill, an act that would provide health care coverage for all Filipinos, which was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte last February 2019.

Meanwhile, Michelle Daquigan from the City of Meycauayan and one of the beneficiaries who is soon to give birth, expressed her appreciation and gratitude to PhilHealth and PGB.

“Malaki ang matutulong nito sa panganganak ko lalung lalo na sa mga gastos sa ospital at gamot,” she said.