REGISTRATION. Individuals register for the First Patient Encounter of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation at SM City Baguio on Tuesday (March 12, 2024). Once registered, one can avail of PhilHealth’s Konsulta package that provides free checkup, 21 types of maintenance medicines, and 13 kinds of laboratory services. (PNA photo by Liza T. Agoot)
BAGUIO CITY – A total of 458,935 registered members of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) in Baguio will be listed for profiling in the “Konsulta Package” of the government health insurance system.
“This is what we have all been waiting for as a preventive care package. We hope they will register for the first patient encounter (FPE) so that they can avail of the Konsulta package.” Dr. Dominga Gadgad, regional vice president of Philhealth-Cordillera, said in a briefing here Tuesday.
Konsulta (consult) is a comprehensive package for outpatient benefits mandated by the Universal Health Care Law.
It includes services like checkups, 13 laboratory and diagnostic tests and free medicines for hypertension, diabetes, asthma, colds, cough, pneumonia, diarrhea, and urinary tract infection.
“This package is preventive. If in the past, our members only did a once-a-year checkup for their health conditions, including laboratory and blood tests, (with this) they can do it often and not worry about the expenses,” Gadgad said.
Dr. Celia Flor Brillantes, acting health officer of the Baguio City Health Services Office (CHSO), said the rural health units under the city government are primary healthcare providers that can provide services for the Konsulta Package.
She said 13 of the 17 district health centers here, including the two super health centers, are being prepared to provide the necessary services under the package.
Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda said the city government has allotted PHP5 million for the enrollment of indigent residents who cannot afford to pay the PhilHealth premium.
PhilHealth held a "Konsulta, Konsultasyon Sulit at Tama" caravan at SM Baguio Mall on Tuesday.
Continuing registration for the FPE can be done at the Philhealth-Baguio office in a mall along Session Road. (PNA)
