Health co-ops in subdivisions pushed

In line with President Estrada's mass housing projects nationwide, health cooperatives should be set up in these areas to augment the income of low-salaried employees, the self-employed and the unemployed, according to Dr. Jose Tamayo, president and chief executive officer of the University of Perpetual Help System (UPHS).

Citing the Bidani housing project of Laguna Gov. Joey Lina as a model, Tamayo said Laguna is the first to establish a health cooperative in support of the President's `Botika sa Barangay.' Tamayo said it is envisioned that the unemployed will have the indigent fund coverage while the self-employed and low-salaried living in these housing areas will be helped by the National Health Insurance Program for their premium payment. Meanwhile, he said premiums for the jobless will be shouldered by local government units (LGUs), the National Government and the employers concerned.

However, he lamented the fact that in most cases, the main objection of the self-employed is that they pay their own premiums. In mapping out the mechanics of the Bidani housing project in Laguna, the above scheme is in order and the rich will have to take care of themselves and can also opt to take another insurance to cover catasrophic illness and hospitalization cost.