PMA donates P100-million worth of IT infrastructure in support govt's “Kalusugan Pangkahalatan” program

By Ma. Alaine P. Allanigue


QUEZON CITY, July 1 (PIA) -- The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) will receive P100-million worth of systems hardware and software from a private consortium to contribute to the Universal Health Care (UHC) enrollment program of the Department of Health (DOH). 

“Led by the Philippine Medical Association (PMA), the private consortium aims to create a real and tangible public-private partnership that will lead in the rigorous effort of galvanizing the entire private sector towards the realization of UHC, otherwise known as Kalusugan Pangkahalatan,” a PMA statement said. 

PMA President Dr. Leo Olarte said the donation to PhilHealth will help eliminate the "stumbling blocks" that have barred the full realization of the government’s efforts to give quality health services to the people. 

The contribution was revealed during the PMA Broadcast and Print Media forum held at the Rembrandt hotel in Quezon City, which was also attended by Health Secretary Enrique Ona and officials and members of the Philippine Inventors Society. 

Moreover, the press release stated that Sec. Ona welcomed the move and acknowledged the private sector’s contribution to achieve success in the government’s health programs with genuine public-private partnership. 

“UHC services cannot be provided unless the program’s beneficiaries are properly identified, processed and registered… UHC will not succeed without private sector participation. This is why we have initiated steps to involve the private sector through the PMA-led consortium’s initiative,” Dr. Olarte stated. 

The available funds for the P100 million donation to PhilHealth has already been prepared so that the UHC private sector consortium can be finalized at the soonest possible time as stated by the PMA Treasurer Dr. Benito Atienza. 

“This will involve among other things the fundamental design, development, installation and implementation of the UHC enrollment system based on the principle of public-private partnership engagement,” Dr. Atienza said as stated on the press release. 

“Initially targeted are 14 million Filipinos pinpointed by the Department of Social Work and Development (DSWD) under its conditional cash transfer program, or President (Noynoy) Aquino’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program,” Dr. Atienza added. (PMA/RJB/MAPA/PIA-NCR)