BACOLOD City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) approved an ordinance institutionalizing the Bacolod Comprehensive Health Program (BacCHP).
BacCHP is a flagship program of Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez. On Sept. 15 he signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with two private hospitals — South Bacolod General Hospital and Metro Bacolod Hospital and Medical Center — for the implementation of the BacCHP even prior to the ordinance’s approval last week.
Councilor Claudio Jesus Puentevella, who authored the ordinance, said BacCHP ensures preventive and curative healthcare services to qualified Philippine Health Insurance, Inc. (PhilHealth) indigent members in this city.
The councilor further said that the BacCHP is in partnership with both private and public hospitals should the need arise, and the proposed budget for this flagship program is P80 million, with possible linkages to the national government for financial support.
The ordinance creates a separate BacCHP Operations Center under the direct supervision of the city mayor, through his duly authorized representative, and in coordination with the City Health Office (CHO), all the barangays, the Office of Senior Citizens’ Affairs (OSCA), and accredited health care providers (AHCP) or private hospitals with an existing MOA with the city.
Puentevella said the Operations Center will issue a membership card, maintain and keep an updated list of BacCHP members/beneficiaries, formulate and implement an effective information program to ensure qualified families and individuals are enrolled in the program, monitor and evaluate the performance of the BacCHP program, and submit an annual report.
He also explained that there are two main components enshrined in the BacCHP: it assures qualified indigents of both preventive and curative health services.
Puentevella said that for the preventive component, the BacCHP member/beneficiary should go to his assigned Barangay Health Station and present the BacCHP Family Health card to avail of an annual medical check-up and e-consultations on dates scheduled by the CHO through the barangay.
Laboratory services and maintenance medicines within the parameters of the e-Konsulta Program of PhilHealth shall be of no cost to the patient.
As to the curative component of the ordinance, the councilor added that in the event that a member/beneficiary requires confinement, the CHO shall immediately inform the BacCHP Operations Center for immediate coordination with the AHCP with available BacCHP beds that can provide the service required by the patient./PN
