MANILA, Philippines - Seeking ways to make affordable health care accessible to every Juan de la Cruz, St. Luke’s Medical Center has forged a partnership with Fortune Care to help families get the medical attention they need for family members and prevent financial disaster in the course of treatment.
With Fortune Care launching the Lovelife Health Card, people seeking world-class medical help will have exclusive access to health care and services provided by St. Luke’s Medical Center (SLMC) - Global City and Quezon City.
“Health care cost is one of the reasons for financial bankruptcy of Filipino families because Filipinos do not customarily save for medical emergencies and expenses,” said Jo Aguilar of SLMC’s Strategic Marketing and Corporate Affairs Division.
“But emergencies do happen — and we don’t mean just accidents, but even the illnesses contracted by children and other family members,” Aguilar said.
Medical practitioners constantly stress that early detection is key to positive outcomes in treatment. But for families without a health care budget, even this initial step is challenging.
“The mother of a sick child — running a high temperature, for instance — worries about whether it is a simple fever or if it could be dengue,” Aguilar said.
“As in any emergency situation, she knows she needs to bring the child to the hospital but worries also about the cost,” Aguilar added.
The Lovelife Health Card is initially available for individuals and families, but plans include corporate enlistment.
“It’s like having a budget set aside for medical emergencies. For a fixed and reasonable amount you put aside, you get a full guarantee that if anything happens — fever that could be dengue or leptospirosis — you have access to the best doctors for consultation, can undergo the necessary routine and diagnostic procedures required for diagnosis, and therapeutic procedures for treatment,” Aguilar said.
“It’s a guarantee and security you need for the proverbial and literal rainy days,” Aguilar added.