CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The provincial government of Pampanga headed by Gov. Lilia ‘Nanay’ Pineda, Department of National Defense and the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) will ink a memorandum of agreement to bring medical services closer to veterans.
VMCC Medical Professional Staff Dr. Dominador Chiong Jr and Dr. Martha Nucum met with Gov. Pineda, Provincial Administrator Atty. Andres S. Pangilinan Jr and officer-in-charge of the Provincial Health Office Dr. Jose Antonio Rivera to discuss the Veterans Hospitalization and Medical Care Program that can be implemented in 11 provincial and district hospitals.
Chiong said the program aims to address the health care needs of the veterans and their qualified dependents who do not have convenient access to VMMC and provide partial subsidy for the hospitalization expenses and reimbursement of certain select procedures and additional benefits.
Living World War II veterans, Armed Forces of the Philippines retirees and former members of the Philippine Constabulary (PC) and their dependents are covered in the program, added Chiong.
According to Rivera, the capitol will put up a veterans ward in the 11 provincial and district hospitals and train nurses that will coordinate with the beneficiaries.
Rivera added that a Veterans Summit will also be conducted to inform the veterans and retirees in Pampanga and other provinces in Central Luzon of the benefits that they can get under the said program.
A medical mission will also be conducted during the event that will render medical consultation, dental check-up, eye examination and ECG, among others. A help desk will also be established where concerns of veterans regarding pensions, IDs and re-validation will be processed.
According to Chiong “there are about 17,000 living World War II veterans and 424,000 retirees and their dependents in the whole country who are entitled to healthcare benefits at present. Every year, about 5,000 retirees are being added on the list”.
LIEZEL CAYANAN
