Pangasinan health program achieves 90 percent coverage

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Pangasinan’s Government Unified Incentives for Medical Consultation or Guiconsulta program has achieved coverage of over 90 percent, with residents registering and availing themselves of PhilHealth outpatient benefits.

More than 90 percent of the residents, or about 1.2 million people, in Pangasinan’s 44 towns and three cities have been serviced by the program.

Launched in October 2024, after the passage of Provincial Ordinance 330-2024, the Guiconsulta program enabled residents to avail themselves of medical consultation, health risk screening and assessment, selected laboratory and diagnostic tests and selected medicines.

To make sure residents register under the program, the government provided a modest amount for fare or to cover a day’s wage since many need to leave their jobs to enroll themselves.

In February, the Department of Health recognized the Pangasinan provincial government as one of three national awardees for the Healthy Communities Awards 2024.

The province received a bronze award for meeting at least 50 percent of the required criteria, alongside Pasay City and Davao de Oro.

It was the first time that Pangasinan received the recognition since the award’s launch in 2021.

The award assesses 12 key components, including potable water and food security, active transport and road safety, housing, essential health services, quality education, clean environments, income support and equitable health financing. 

Gov. Ramon Guico III said the province’s health programs align with its strategic goals.

“We never aimed to win this prestigious award, it just aligned with our strategic plan and our programs for the province. We just did what we needed to do,” Guico said.