PhilHealth: Pangasinan's health program worthy of emulation

BAGUIO CITY -- The Vice President for Region 1 said the health program of the province of Pangasinan should be made a model for other provinces in delivering services to their people.

PhilHealth Region 1 VP Dennis B. Adre lauded the Provincial Government of Pangasinan for coming up with its GUICONSULTA (Government Unified Incentives for Medical Consultations). GUICONSULTA was launched by the province as a counterpart service to PhilHealth’s Konsulta program. Konsulta is an outpatient program of PhilHealth that started in 2020.

The GUICONSULTA, launched in 2024 and led by Pangasinan Governor Ramon V. Guico III, was initially aimed at enrolling at least two million Pangasinenses. Adre said it was a welcome development for PhilHealth as it complements the latter’s program by helping promote the availment of actual services by the members.

“We have been coordinating with our head office to study and evaluate the Pangasinan Business Model and probably adopt and turn it into a policy,” Adre disclosed. He said that Philhealth has been trying to influence policy with actual good practice.

Adre said that the capitation worth P1,700 is being paid to the partner-accredited facilities, including the 14 hospitals operated by the provincial government, for actual services or outpatient services rendered. He explained that the P1,700 capitation goes toward the members’ laboratory fees. It is also used for maintenance medicines for the members, including antibiotics, anti-diabetes, and hypertension medicines.

“In the case of Pangasinan, they have come up with an 80-20 sharing scheme which is provided for in a memorandum of agreement signed by and among the 48 municipalities and cities,” he said. He added that 80 percent is being held in trust by the province in a special health fund as contained in a resolution. On the other hand, the 20 percent goes directly to the local government units.

Adre also lauded the plans in the Pangasinan Business Model, particularly the intention to invest in infrastructure, among other things. He said the provincial government intends to invest in an Apex Hospital. "And they intend to upgrade the existing facilities in the province to meet the needs of all our members,” he stressed.

Adre clarified that the P300 being given by the provincial government to enrollees did not come from PhilHealth but from the coffers of the province. “As of now, PhilHealth has not been able to pay for that purpose. Our engagement with them as one whole provincial health network has not been able to give even a peso,” he stated.