Hospitalization free for poor Pinoys in 2017- DOH chief

SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao— Poor Filipinos need not worry the cost of hospitalization, as the Department of Health vowed free hospital and medicine bills, starting 2017.

Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Rossel-Ubial Saturday, December 17, said “There’s no need to hold any card of PhilHealth, just prove to us you are a Filipino, you are entitled to be covered by health benefits, the PhilHealth will take care of the hospital billings and other concerns.”

The program is first in the history of Philippine government’s health program.

Earlier on, President Rodrigo Duterte asked the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to provide funds for the health care of the poor Filipinos.

Ubial quoted President Rodrigo Duterte telling her “Just take care of the poor, I’ll take care where to find the money.”

Ubial went to Maguindanao on Saturday to grace the inauguration of the first ever CT Scan machine for the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO)-Maguindanao.

The Integrated Provincial Hospital Office (IPHO) in Maguindanao cited the increased health budget will benefit the poor Filipinos hospital needs.

In the previous year’s, the health department’s budget failed to pay obligations as reflected P42-billion arrears due to Philhealth obligations but recently it paid P32-billion.

“This the is first time in [DOH] history … President Duterte has exerted all efforts and expect changes in the next days … poor patients will leave hospitals with no billings balance,” Ubial added.