PhilHealth Konsulta program now covers poor students

CEBU, Philippines — The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) said several poor and disadvantaged students will now benefit from the Konsulta program of the agency.

PhilHealth said it has partnered with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to make primary healthcare services affordable and accessible to indigent students in state universities and colleges (SUCs).

“It is important that the health and welfare of the young members of the population are taken cared of through PhilHealth Konsulta. They are next in line to become leaders and nation builders,” said PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Edwin Mercado.

PhilHealth and CHED earlier signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the integration of PhilHealth coverage for the beneficiaries of Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) and Tulong Dunong Program (TDP) of the CHED-UniFast or Unified Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education

The partnership will benefit around 500,000 CHED-UniFAST TES and TDP beneficiaries because they belong to the poorest households listed with the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The students, including those under 21 can also be registered in Konsulta through their parents.

Mercado said, “One of our main focuses is on primary healthcare or the concept of Konsulta. The signing with CHED is a way to expedite and expand the enrollment of the members of PhilHealth to Konsulta.”

The PhilHealth Konsulta Package is a comprehensive outpatient benefit that includes consultation, health screening and assessment, laboratory tests, and medicines aimed at addressing the gaps in healthcare for the underserved members of the population.

The health facilities of the different SUCs will also be evaluated and accredited as Konsulta Providers as this will help provide quick delivery of comprehensive outpatient services especially for students.

Mercado said the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila also took part in the MOU signing.

The academic institution will work with CHED to provide support and guidance to SUCs to meet the PhilHealth standards and become accredited Konsulta providers.

“Apart from CHED Secretary Prospero de Vera, we are also thankful to UP Manila Chancellor Dr. Michael Tee because they are helping us make clinics of SUCs and universities Konsulta ready,” Mercado said. – Philippine Star News Service/FPL