DAGUPAN CITY – More than seven hundred indigent families from barangays Bolosan, Salisay, and Tebeng received PhilHealth cards from the local government on Wednesday.
It was the first day of the barangay-to-barangay distribution of PhilHealth cards by the City Health Office (CHO) and the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO).
The distribution will continue till some 12,000 indigent families in 31 barangays are all given their respective cards.
Cardholders are entitled to avail of the benefits of the No Balance Billing (NBB) policy of PhilHealth, which provides the recipients either free or discounted health services from accredited government hospitals and selected private health facilities.
“The government paid for their premiums, so the families can avail of the benefits,” Dr. Ophelia Rivera, the city health officer, said.
According to PhilHealth Circular No. 0003 s. 2014, among the other illnesses covered by the NBB include leptospirosis, Tuberculosis directly observed treatment, short-course (TB-DOTS), animal bites, and avian influenza.
The policy, which may cover room, food, medicine, supplies, and professional fees of doctors, further requires health facilities to provide beneficiaries “quality and complete services”.
Mayor Belen Fernandez joined the CHO and CSWDO in distributing the PhilHealth cards.
The mayor reminded beneficiaries of the free health services that the local government is offering other services such as the coming University of Santo Tomas (UST) Medical Mission from April 21 to 22 and the soon-to-open Diagnostic Center in the CHO compound in Herrero-Perez.
“We will offer free ultra-sound, ECG, and x-ray in our Diagnostic Center,” Fernandez said. “It is very important for you to take care of your health.” (Zarena Amado/CIO)