News
Mindanao LGUs Maximize PhilHealth Capitation Fund - May 30, 2006
AT least two (2) local government units in Mindanao have reported
having maximized the use of the capitation fund that it receives
from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth)
as a result of providing out-patient diagnostic benefits to
indigent families in their localities.
In a series of interviews with the Marawi City Health Office
and the Wao Rural Health Unit (RHU) in Lanao del Sur recently,
PhilHealth learned that the capitation fund is indeed being
used for the improvement of the health care facilities. Dr.
Ali Dalidig, City Health Officer II of the Islamic City of Marawi
said that the fund has enabled the city to put up a ten-bed
maternity and children’s hospital, for which groundbreaking
ceremonies have commenced.
"We are using the 2003 arrears of about P1.4M to put
up the hospital," Dalidig said. He added that since
they first received the PhilHealth capitation fund (PCF) in
2002, they have been able to undertake renovations for the City
Health Office, buy medicines, dental equipment and other laboratory
supplies to help strengthen the CHO’s capability to address
the health care needs of the city’s residents. Staff incentives
were also granted using the PCF.
On the other hand, Aurea Angeles, Public Health Nurse of the
Wao RHU said that since the LGU started receiving the PCF in
2005, they have been able to buy laboratory equipment to process
diagnostic tests of patients, a refrigerator to store intravenous
drugs, injectables, suppositories and other sensitive medicines
and medical and other supplies to augment the RHU’s stocks.
Angeles added that they were also able to buy a laminating machine
which they use for the ID cards of indigent members of PhilHealth
who avail themselves of consultation and other services in the
RHU.
"Simula nang magka-PhilHealth kami, ang dami-dami nang
pasyente. Hindi kami tumitigil, talagang wala na kaming pahinga,"
she said, stressing that "everyday na talaga, may pasyente
kami." She attributed the continued influx of patients
to the improved quality of services in the RHU.She also emphasized
that the PCF also benefits the entire working team of the RHU,
including the non-medical personnel. "Lahat kami binibigyan,
from the janitor to the Municipal Health Officer,"
she said.
PhilHealth grants the PCF to LGUs whose RHUs have been accredited
to provide out-patient diagnostic benefits to enrolled indigent
families. The amount, equivalent to P300.00 per LGU-enrolled
family, can be used by the LGU to procure equipment and supplies
to upgrade the facilities of its PhilHealth-accredited RHUs.
This is released to the LGU once the premium payment for the
enrolment of the indigent families has been made.
Among the out-patient diagnostic benefits that accredited facilities
like the Marawi CHO and the Wao RHU provide are complete blood
count, fecalysis, urinalysis, sputum microscopy, visual acetic
acid screening, digital rectal exam, counselling for smoking
cessation and lifestyle modification, among others. To date,
about 1,033 RHUs in the country are PhilHealth-accredited and
are providing such services to less privileged Filipinos whose
health insurance coverage have been ensured by their respective
LGUs.