PhilHealth ready to help sick storm victims – senator
SEN. Bong Go has advised Filipinos who may have suffered injury or illness due to the floods brought by Tropical Storm Kristine to avail themselves of Philippine Health Insurance Inc. (PhilHealth) aid packages. Go, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, said health care should not be a source of anxiety for those affected by natural disasters. "Do not be afraid of going to the hospital. There are PhilHealth packages that can help you [with your medical needs]," he said in Filipino. Go said that changes in PhilHealth packages stemmed from his "relentless efforts" during the public hearings conducted by the Senate Health Committee "to make healthcare more accessible to vulnerable Filipinos." The senator said he pushed for reforms in PhilHealth to make it "more responsive to the needs of the public, particularly those hit hard by natural disasters." He called on PhilHealth to remove restrictive policies, such as the Single Period of Confinement rule and the 24-hour confinement policy. He also sought to lower premium contributions by direct members, increase case rates, and expand benefit packages, particularly for diseases with high mortality rates, such as heart disease, diabetes and respiratory illnesses. Go called for the inclusion of outpatient services, mental health coverage, visual and dental care, as well as the provision of assistive devices and emergency medical treatments. As of October 27, "Kristine" had left over 85 dead and countless families displaced, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
Tomas Kauer - Moderator 
SEN. Bong Go has advised Filipinos who may have suffered injury or illness due to the floods brought by Tropical Storm Kristine to avail themselves of Philippine Health Insurance Inc. (PhilHealth) aid packages.
Go, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, said health care should not be a source of anxiety for those affected by natural disasters.
"Do not be afraid of going to the hospital. There are PhilHealth packages that can help you [with your medical needs]," he said in Filipino.
Go said that changes in PhilHealth packages stemmed from his "relentless efforts" during the public hearings conducted by the Senate Health Committee "to make healthcare more accessible to vulnerable Filipinos."
The senator said he pushed for reforms in PhilHealth to make it "more responsive to the needs of the public, particularly those hit hard by natural disasters."
He called on PhilHealth to remove restrictive policies, such as the Single Period of Confinement rule and the 24-hour confinement policy.
He also sought to lower premium contributions by direct members, increase case rates, and expand benefit packages, particularly for diseases with high mortality rates, such as heart disease, diabetes and respiratory illnesses.
Go called for the inclusion of outpatient services, mental health coverage, visual and dental care, as well as the provision of assistive devices and emergency medical treatments.
As of October 27, "Kristine" had left over 85 dead and countless families displaced, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
