CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) and the provincial government of Pampanga with the Department of Health distributed yesterday the member’s data records of some 4,000 members in Lubao and 3,195 in the town of Bacolor.

The distribution was graced by Governor Lilia G. Pineda, Dr. Leonita Gorgolon of the Department of Health (DOH), Lolita Tullao, regional vice president of Philhealth, Henry Almanon, Philhealth  Pampanga Branch Manager, Olga Frances David Dizon, governor’s chief of staff, Mayor Mylin Pineda-Cayabyab of Lubao and Bacolor Vice Mayor Ananias Canlas Jr together with the respective members of Sangguniang bayan of the two towns and their municipal department heads.

Governor Pineda disclosed that atleast 157,000 kapampangan poor families will be given Philhealth cards in the entire province for free and easy access to basic healthcare services even without an illness.

These Philhealth members were identified by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through the National Household Targeting System or NHTS and the Philhealth payment was shouldered by the DOH under the Universal Health Care program of the national government.

The governor with the Mayor Pineda-Cayabyab and Bacolor Vice Mayor Canlas, thanked the national government particularly President Benigno Noynoy Aquino for his concern to the welfare and health of the poor.

Tullao said the program dubbed “Tamang Serbisyo para sa Kalusugan ng Pamilya” (Tsekap), for the indigent families aims to give them an opportunity to consult a primary care doctor and avail themselves of preventive services to keep themselves healthy.

“Some the health services include blood-pressure monitoring, breast-feeding counseling, stopping smoking and lifestyle modification, cervical and breast cancer screening, digital rectal exam,” Tullao said.

She explained that through Tsekap, poor families will be more empowered to see a doctor and demand medical attention even without an illness.

Tullao said upon the recommendation of the doctor, diagnostic tests such as a complete blood count, urinalysis, fecalysis, sputum microscopy, fasting blood sugar, Lipid profile and chest X-rays may be availed of under the program.

Gorgolon also explained that medicine for asthma (with nebulization services), acute gastroenteritis with no or mild dehydration, minimal or low risk pneumonia, and urinary tract infection would also be made available to poor families.

She explained that Tsekap is part of the Philhealth and Department of Health’s multisector advocacy campaign, “Alaga Ka para sa Maayos na Buhay” (Alaga Ka), aimed at ensuring that poor members are properly instructed on how to avail themselves of basic health services at rural health centers.

“Ang ibig sabihin ng Alaga ka ay “Alamin at Gamitin”ang Philhealth services. Hindi lamang sa pagpapahospital kundi maging sa pagpapatsekap magagamit din ang inyong sponsored Philhealth,” Gorgolon clarified.

The two separate activities in the said towns was by less than 8,000 members from various barangays of Lubao and Bacolor town who received their updated member data records.

The governor added that these new Philhealth program is a “clear manifestation” of the government’s concern for the less privileged by making primary healthcare effectively accessible to all particularly the poor.

The governor also disclosed that Philhealth has another “Point of Care Program”, wherein the poor patients who are non-Philhealth members, admitted in government hospitals like in Jose B. Lingad Regional Memorial hospital and in the eleven district hospitals may also avail the services of Philhealth.

“Iyong mahirap na walang Philhealth na naospital ay kailangang pumunta sa Kapitolyo para mabayaran ang kanyang Philhealth membership na P2,400 para ma-avail niya ang serbisyo at matulungan siya ng kapitolyo at ng Philhealth.

The governor said the provincial government allotted some P10-million for the “point of care” program of the DOH and the Philhealth.