SMC helps insure medical frontliners

MANILA, Philippines — San Miguel Corp. (SMC), the country's diversified conglomerate, has provided life insurance package to medical frontliners from 18 hospitals across Cebu.

SMC president Ramon Ang said the initiative started months ago when cases of coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 cases in Cebu surged.

The coverage of up to P2 million each, will be for 5,000 medical frontliners from 18 hospitals across Cebu.

“Saving lives is still our highest priority. Unfortunately, COVID-19 can affect anyone, even our doctors and nurses. As much as possible, we cannot lose any more lives, especially not our medical frontliners, because they are the ones tasked to save lives. Through this effort, we hope they feel that their everyday sacrifices are valued and appreciated,” Ang said.

Under the program, SMC pays for all the premiums for the insurance of medical frontliners in Perpetual Soccour Hospital (459), Cebu Doctors University Hospital (254), Southwestern University Medical Center (36), St. Vincent General Shopital (99), Mendero Medical Center (77), Visayas Community Medical Center (62), Adventist Hospital Cebu (189),  Chong Hua Hospital (1,303), Cebu South General Hospital (125), Cebu Velez General Hospital (143), Cebu City Medical Center (12), Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (65), Talisay District Hospital (30), Arc Hospital (44), Cebu North (91), Mactan Doctors’ Hospital (155), Allegiant Regional Care (305), University of Cebu Medical Center (278).

Some 61 infectious disease specialists and pulmonologists and hundreds of other medical workers were also provided the same insurance coverage.

Since the start of the pandemic, SMC has been stepping up efforts to help health workers.

Initiatives include waiving toll fees for health workers in all its operating expressways, namely STAR, SLEX, Skyway, NAIAx, and TPLEX.

It also provides fuel for the government’s free shuttle service program for medical workers.