ACCREDITATION. Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) Antique Office Information Officer Liza Joyce Songcayawon (right) and another personnel assist clients in their registration for the Konsulta Package on Sept. 28, 2023. Songcayawon said in an interview Friday (Dec. 29, 2023) that the PhilHealth Antique has accredited 26 Rural Health Units and government hospitals for the Konsulta Package implementation in Western Visayas in 2023. (Photo courtesy of PhilHealth Antique)
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) in Antique was able to accredit a total of 26 Rural Health Units (RHUs) and government hospitals to implement its Konsulta Package in the province in 2023.
Liza Joyce Songcayawon, PhilHealth Antique Information Officer, said in an interview Friday that 17 of their 18 RHUs were accredited for the Konsulta Package implementation this year.
Only the RHU Libertad in Antique has yet to be accredited as an officer-in-charge (OIC) municipal health officer has just been appointed to lead the program implementation.
“All the nine government hospitals in Antique have also been accredited by the PHIC to cater to the 225,438 registered members and their dependents under the Konsulta Package,” Songcayawon added.
Antique, having the biggest number of accredited facilities in Western Visayas (Region 6), also has the highest number of registered PhilHealth members at 225,438.
The implementation of the Konsulta Package, which allows members to avail of consultation, health screening, and assessment, was intensified in Antique in 2022.
The latest data showed that as of Oct. 31, 2023, PhilHealth Antique has paid PHP3.7 million in claims to the RHUs and government hospitals.
Meanwhile, Songcayawon expressed hope that the RHU Libertad could finally be accredited by next year.
“We hope that there will already be a 100-percent registration of Antiquenos to become PHIC members and avail of the Konsulta Package,” she said.
Songcayawon said among those who have yet to register with PhilHealth are individuals who had already turned 21 years and no longer dependents of their parents, senior citizens especially those living in remote areas, persons with disabilities who have not yet been registered with the Philippine Registry for PWDs.
“We are seeking the assistance of the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA), as a third party, to assist the seniors since their membership is also free,” she said. (PNA)
