QC targets 55,000 PhilHealth beneficiaries

The Quezon City government is targeting 55,000 poor residents in the city as recipients of PhilHealth cards that will allow them to avail of free medical services in private and public hospitals in the city.

Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said the health card program would be a continuation of the Sagip Buhay medical card program, which has so far benefited 52,000 poor residents of the city. The SB cards provide a maximum P5,000 medical expenses for the cardholder.

"And to provide our city’s poor with wider medical privileges that PhilHealth can provide, we are targeting 55,000 beneficiaries to be given PhilHealth cards," Belmonte said.

The program will be carried out in cooperation with President Arroyo’s Medicare Para sa Masa program so that those who are going to health centers and public city hospitals will be able to avail of more medical benefits for free.

Apart from giving free health insurance service to indigents, the city government has also pursued in its health agenda the implementation of nutrition services to children and easy access to inexpensive yet reliable health care.

Since Belmonte assumed office, the city government has constructed eight Super Health Centers and conducted major renovations to nine others with one more scheduled for this year.

The city government has also ensured that a continuous supply of medicines will be available at various health centers, particularly in urban poor areas where residents are exposed to seasonal illness.

To further boost the delivery of health services, the city government has also undertaken moves to convert the city-run Quezon City General Hospital into a 400-bed facility. – Perseus Echeminada