BACOLOD City – For easier access to primary healthcare services, the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) here urged the City Health Office (CHO) to fully implement the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s (PhilHealth) Konsultang Sulit at Tama (Konsulta) Program.
The SP further told the CHO to facilitate the registration in barangay health centers for residents to take full advantage of the program.
Under Republic Act (RA) No. 11223, or the Universal Health Care Act of 2019, all Filipinos are automatically enrolled as PhilHealth members, but not all members are immediately enrolled in Konsulta, as it requires registration with their preferred providers.
Despite the automatic Philhealth membership of all Filipinos, many individuals remain unregistered or unaware of their eligibility, resulting in limited access to primary healthcare services and PhilHealth Konsulta benefits,” said Councilor Celia Flor.
Following this, she proposed a resolution requesting the CHO to facilitate the registration of residents into the program and it was approved by the SP.
“The lack of accessible registration points and awareness campaigns has contributed to low participation in the Konsulta Program, particularly among low-income and marginalized communities in this city,” read part of the said resolution.
It added that barangay health centers, being the primary healthcare facilities closest to the communities, are strategically positioned to facilitate the registration of residents into the Konsulta Program, thereby improving healthcare access and ensuring that all eligible individuals can benefit from primary healthcare services.
“Mobilizing barangay health centers for PhilHealth Konsulta registration aligns with the city’s commitment to strengthening its healthcare system, ensuring that every resident receives the preventive and primary care they need,” the councilor added.
The Konsulta program provided Filipinos with access to free consultations, laboratory and diagnostic tests, and essential medications for common illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, and asthma.
The program further shifts the country’s healthcare focus from treatment to prevention, ensuring early detection and management of diseases before they become severe, thereby reducing the burden on hospitals and emergency healthcare facilities./PN
