News Archive 2003
Healthcare Fund Transfer To Benefit OFWs: Official
- December 2, 2003
By Ramona Ruiz (Khaleej Times)
DUBAI -The healthcare benefits of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) will not be reduced with the planned transfer of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Medicare Fund to Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), said Reynaldo N. Dalma Jr., senior vice- president, Management Services Sector at PhilHealth, in an interview with Khaleej Times yesterday.
Mr. Dalma arrived in Dubai on Sunday from Cyprus where he attended a convention on social security which was organised by the International Social Security Association. He was invited as one of the panelists on topics related to healthcare.
Prior to his meeting with the Filipino community in Dubai at the Office of the Labour Attache last night, the official said: "I believe that my stopover in Dubai presented a good opportunity to meet OFWs and clear whatever doubts or misconceptions they might have about the planned transfer of the OWWA Medicare Fund to PhilHealth." He explained that there would be a six-month transition period wherein Phil- Health and OWWA will work together to ensure the pre- paredness in terms of membership and registration, collec- tion, claims and processing, among others. "We hope that the executive order will be signed within this year so that OFWs could enjoy healthcare benefits offered by PhilHealth," he said.
Mr
Dalma added: "It was on February 14 that an executive order
was signed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for the transfer
of the fund to PhilHealth. This was recalled as it did not contain
specific agreements between PhilHealth and OWWA. One such agreement
is that OWWA Medicare will transfer the full amount to PhilHealth.
We were afraid that if the fund was not transferred in full,
there might be a technical malversasion of funds," Mr.
Dalma pointed out.
Commenting on concerns of some OFWs that the OWWA Medicare Fund, when transferred to PhilHealth, will be part of the election campaign fund, he said: "We have to stress here that the fund which will soon be in the care of PhilHealth will be strictly managed by a board of directors which OWWA Administrator Virgilio Angelo is a member of. So OFWs should not be apprehensive with the continuous strengthening of their Medicare Fund."
"The OWWA Medicare Fund which would be transferred to us will be a miniscule amount as compared to our assets amounting to 40 billion pesos. The transfer will be beneficial toOFWs as we are highly capable of handling the fund. One can pay their monthly premiums in any of our 16 regional offices and 70 service offices apart from the 3,000 branches of our accredited banks." Under Republic Act (R.A.) 7875, a National Health Insurance Programme (NHIP) is to be established for all Filipinos. For a yearly contribution of 900 Philippine pesos, an OFW , his or her spouse, their children below 21 years old and parents aged 60 and above could avail of the benefits offered by PhilHealth in 1,500 accredited hospitals with 18,000 professionals all over the country.