The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) on Tuesday said the country needs approximately 2,000 more accredited Konsulta providers or facilities to enhance primary healthcare services.

Data from the state insurer reveals there are currently 3,149 Konsulta providers.

PhilHealth National Capital Region Office Vice President Dr. Bernadette Lico stated that Metro Manila and the province of Rizal alone require 400 additional Konsulta providers. Currently, there are 468 providers in these areas, accounting for less than 15 percent of the existing providers nationwide.

She explained that the additional Konsulta providers would help meet the demand for doctors to efficiently serve 17 million Filipinos in Metro Manila and Rizal province alone.

"A doctor in those areas can serve 20,000 patients, so we really need more Konsulta providers," Dr. Lico said during a media briefing at the Philippine Information Agency in Quezon City.

Healthcare facilities must apply for Konsulta accreditation with PhilHealth to offer the Konsulta Package, which includes 15 laboratory services, 21 affordable medicines, and health screenings.

The public must also register for the Konsulta Package. The number of Konsulta-registered patients has risen to 27.8 million nationwide, with 1.64 million in Metro Manila, accounting for 6 percent of the total.

Dr. Lico encouraged healthcare facilities to seek accreditation, as PhilHealth is set to expand its benefit packages this year to cover outpatient services, diagnostics, cancer treatments, care for children with disabilities, and open-heart surgeries, among others.

Starting 14 February, healthcare facilities can begin applying for accreditation to provide dental and optometric services for children, she said.

"PhilHealth is taking baby steps in extending benefits for primary healthcare and mental health," Dr. Lico said.

She added that PhilHealth is also reaching out to school clinics to provide primary healthcare services.