The health and local executives of the Pangasinan provincial government confirmed the implementation of the “no balance billing” policy in the 14 government-run hospitals, in accordance with the call of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
Provincial health officer Dr. Maria Vivian Villar-Espino, in an interview on Monday, said Pangasinenses can avail of zero balance billing once admitted in basic accommodation as long as the medical services they needed are available in the hospital.
“Ideally, they should be member of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), but if they are not yet member, they may also be enrolled while they are admitted in the hospital,” she said.
Provincial Hospital Management Services Office head Dr. Tracy Lou Bitoy, during the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Board) session, said they are strictly monitoring that the policy is well implemented.
She said the provincial government is continuously upgrading the medical equipment and manpower of the 14 hospitals while expansions are also on underway to better serve the needs of the people.
The hospitals have 914 Department of Health authorized bed capacity but the implementing capacity is 1,600.
Bitoy said they plan to a bed capacity of 200 to 300 to the hospitals in the next three years.
Vice Governor Mark Ronald Lambino, in a separate interview, said the no balance billing was instructed by Governor Ramon Guico III stressing that healthcare remains among the top priorities of the province.
He said changes are being implemented in the utilization of the hospitals’ maintenance and other operating expenses.
“So there were slight changes in the procurement process of the provincial government. This was instructed by our governor to ensure that there will be no shortage or delay in delivery and availability. Not only in the medicine, but also in the use of our hospitals. So there were some changes and adjustments that were done based on reports. But definitely, as far as budget is concerned, like I said, healthcare is still a priority,” Lambino said. (PNA)