HMOs set confab on healthcare delivery systems

MANILA, Philippines - The country’s biggest trade association of health maintenance organizations (HMOs) is out to take the lead in healthcare delivery by helping its members further improve their capability to bring their services closer to the people.

This objective will be discussed at the 20th annual convention of the Association of Health Maintenance Organizations of the Philippines Inc. (AHMOPI) on Wednesday (Nov. 17) at the Makati Sports Club.

With the theme “Taking the Lead (in healthcare delivery)”, the AHMOPI convention will have Health Secretary Dr. Enrique T. Ona as guest speaker, and PhilHealth president Dr. Rey B. Aquino, Medical City colorectal surgeon Dr. Manuel Francisco Roxas, CEB Group of Companies chairman Dr. Carl Balita, United Laboratories vice president Rhais Gamboa, Philippine Handwriting Institute president Jaime Siybauco, St. Luke’s Medical Center Quezon City vice president Dr. Edgardo Cortez, and Healthway Medical president Eleanor B. Tan as plenary speakers.

AHMOPI chairman Ernesto B. Rufino Jr. said the HMO industry could take the lead in healthcare delivery through carefully planned, expertly guided and masterfully executed innovations.

“The Philippine HMO industry could not have survived all these years without having fulfilled a critical need and delivered on their commitments. However, we have to build on our gains and exercise leadership to reinforce our socioeconomic and market relevance,” Rufino added.

This view is shared by AHMOPI president Mario M. Silos, saying:

“Providing quality healthcare par excellence to each and every client must bind the industry together since public expectations on the capacity of our health delivery systems run high.”

Bringing healthcare closer to the people is an advocacy and initiative of AHMOPI.

Such initiative is what AHMOPI executive director and overall convention chairman Carlos Da Silva is intent on pushing. 

“Access to quality healthcare is one of man’s fundamental rights, and we can do no less than provide our clients with the very best in health programs and services,” Da Silva stressed.