KABAYAN REP. RON SALO URGES PHILHEALTH TO ASSIGN PERSONNEL IN EMBASSIES TO ADDRESS OFW HEALTH CONCERNS

KABAYAN REP. RON SALO URGES PHILHEALTH TO ASSIGN PERSONNEL IN EMBASSIES TO ADDRESS OFW HEALTH CONCERNS

KABAYAN Partylist Rep. Ron P. Salo calls on the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to assign personnel to Philippine Embassies abroad to provide immediate and accessible services to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). 

During consultations with OFWs in the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Hong Kong, and other countries, the OFWs informed Rep. Salo that they observed that PhilHealth is efficient in collecting membership fees. However, they expressed their dismay on PhilHealth’s lack of presence abroad which contributes to OFW’s struggle in availing of the benefits due to them.

“PhilHealth’s collection system is highly efficient, which we commend. However, the availment of services for OFWs needs improvement,” Salo stated. “Our OFWs, who contribute significantly to the country's economy through remittances, deserve more accessible health services, including immediate processing of claims. We have agencies like the DFA, DMW, OWWA, Pag-IBIG, and SSS present in our embassies and consulates, but sadly, PhilHealth is missing.”

In his letter addressed to the PhilHealth Board of Directors, Rep. Salo urged PhilHealth to assign attachés or personnel in countries with large OFW populations, such as the Middle East (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman), Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, and Italy, to address OFWs' healthcare needs promptly.

Rep. Salo also encouraged PhilHealth to explore partnerships with local health facilities abroad to expedite access to healthcare for OFWs. “It is critical that OFWs have quicker and easier access to healthcare services while they are abroad. PhilHealth should actively explore partnerships with hospitals and clinics in key OFW destinations to make sure that our workers can easily claim the benefits they have paid for.”

In addition to personnel deployment, Rep. Salo, a strong advocate for universal healthcare and one of the primary authors of the Universal Health Care Law, proposed the following enhancements to PhilHealth’s services not just to OFWs but to all Filipinos:

(1) Emergency Package: Implement a health package for emergency medical cases that does not require the standard 24-hour hospital confinement, ensuring OFWs can receive immediate attention in critical situations.

(2) Expanded Diagnostic Services: Broaden the range of diagnostic services included in the E-Konsulta package, covering more advanced tests such as ultrasounds, PET scans, CT scans, and MRIs to address a wider range of medical concerns.

(3) Dental Services: Include dental care in the E-Konsulta package, recognizing the importance of oral health in overall well-being.

“PhilHealth has made significant strides in ensuring healthcare coverage for Filipinos. As one of the champions of the Universal Health Care Law, I believe these proposed reforms will greatly enhance the healthcare experience of our OFWs. These improvements are crucial in ensuring that our modern-day heroes, who sacrifice so much for their families and our nation, receive the health services they deserve,” Salo concluded.

Rep. Salo remains committed to working with PhilHealth and other government agencies to better serve OFWs, ensuring that their contributions are matched with accessible and timely healthcare services.

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