The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and the Department of Health (DOH) are establishing their first common strategy to align state health benefits with existing national healthcare programs, PhilHealth President and CEO Beverly Lorraine Ho announced Thursday, August 20.
Ho stated that the strategy, named the Unified National Agenda for Health (UNA), emphasizes collaboration, development, and honoring the contributions of local government units, healthcare staff, and institutional partners.
”And we know at this point in time, PhilHealth can do so much more. So ang aming shared agenda po ay tinatawag na Unified National Agenda for Health or UNA. Una sa pagtutulungan, una sa pag-usad, at una sa pagkilala,” Ho explained.
Highlighting the historic nature of the plan, Ho noted that this marks the first time both agencies have established a unified path for the health sector.
”For many of you who’ve been covering the health sector, this is the first time that we will actually be having a shared agenda with the DOH,” she said.
Through UNA, PhilHealth aims to synchronize its financial coverage directly with DOH initiatives to maintain continuous patient care across the country.
”Una sa pagtutulungan, para tuloy-tuloy ang alagang dama ng bawat Pilipino, every PhilHealth benefit will be aligned to existing DOH programs,” Ho said.
As a practical application of the agreement, PhilHealth is currently expanding its primary care initiative, the Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP), which provides medical consultations, laboratory testing, screenings, and outpatient medications in public settings.
”For example, we’re currently scaling up YAKAP in schools and workplaces to widen primary care access, while DOH strengthens interagency coordination and health promotion in those same settings,” she noted.
Under this division of labor, the DOH will focus on driving health literacy and encouraging preventative lifestyle habits, while PhilHealth guarantees financial coverage for consultations and medicines.
”Para mapanatiling malusog ang bawat Pilipino, DOH will enable the healthy habits, health literacy, but PhilHealth ang magsisiguro na may access sa konsultasyon at gamot kapag kailangan,” Ho explained.
Moving forward, the state insurer plans to broaden service access points, refine existing package coverage, and raise care standards for its members in accordance with the Universal Health Care Act.
”Ang trabaho namin ngayon ay ituloy ang pagsulong ng mga programang ito by increasing access points, improving benefit packages, and ensuring that every member receives not just any care, but quality care,” she said, adding that “We want our progress to reach the people who need it most.”
Recognizing key participants across the health sector, Ho credited local government units and healthcare workers for their essential role in pushing health initiatives forward.
”Una sa pagkilala, every win is shared with our LGUs, partners, and frontliners, and that includes all of you,” she said.