FEBRUARY of each year is National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) Month in recognition of the important role that the NHIP plays in every Filipino's life.
Spearheading this year's NHIP Month celebration is the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) which also marks its 17th Anniversary on February 14. The theme for this year’s celebration is "Sa PhilHealth, pinalawak na benepisyo, garantisado."
The month-long celebration kicks off with a Press Conference today at the Discovery Suites in Pasig City where PhilHealth's benefits agenda for 2012 and beyond will be announced. "The accompanying logo for PhilHealth's Race to Universal Health Care will also be unveiled," said PhilHealth President and CEO Dr. Eduardo P. Banzon.
On February 5, a fun run dubbed PhilHealth Run: Mindanao Run for Hope, will be held simultaneously in six cities in Mindanao, namely, Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Koronadal, Butuan and Marawi. The activity is intended to benefit children with cancer.
At least four (4) electronic service initiatives will be launched on February 14, and various fora will be organized, namely, with Local Chief Executives on February 9, with international experts on health care financing on March 22 to 23, with representatives of accredited collecting agents and with OFW-members in Taiwan in April. Visits to members in accredited hospitals will also be done, while information desks in major shopping malls in the National Capital Region will be launched.
Employee activities are also in store, such as the Ecumenical Mass which will be held simultaneously in the different PhilHealth offices nationwide, the annual tiangge, a series of corporate social responsibility initiatives for senior citizens, a Family Day on February 25 and a sports and cheer dance competition in the summer. For the first time, too, all of PhilHealth’s officers will gather for a two-day meet at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Manila.
"We are calling on our corporate partners to join us in the observance of February as NHIP Month," said Banzon, adding that "...heads of various government agencies, as well as local government units and partner-providers, are also urged to display NHIP streamers for the entire month as a show of unity and cooperation towards PhilHealth's goal of universal health coverage."
PhilHealth is a government owned and controlled corporation created by virtue of Republic Act 7875, as amended by RA 9241, mandated to lead the administration of the NHIP. (END)