In a major step towards enhancing the health and well-being of public school students, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and the Department of Education (DepEd) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 8 May at the DepEd head office in Pasig City.

This collaboration is in line with the mandate of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to improve the accessibility of government services to learners, as well as teaching and non-teaching personnel in academic institutions.

The MoU outlines key initiatives aimed at ensuring that all enrolled public school students are properly registered with PhilHealth, enabling them to access affordable and quality healthcare services.

The partnership also focuses on transforming schools into health-promoting environments and school clinics into efficient providers of primary care.

As part of the agreement, DepEd will adopt mechanisms to facilitate PhilHealth registration for students. Additionally, PhilHealth will assist in enrolling students’ families into the Konsulta Package, a program designed to provide primary care services for families of learners.

PhilHealth acting president and CEO, Dr. Edwin M. Mercado, emphasized the significance of the partnership, stating, “The future this landmark partnership offers is one with healthier children that will transition to adults with better health-seeking behavior.”

He explained that the initiative aims to promote preventive care for students, reducing absences, and mitigating medical costs for children with chronic conditions.

DepEd Secretary Juan Edgardo M. Angara expressed strong support for the partnership, stating, “This is what we envisioned when we passed the Universal Health Care law. It is important that people trust they will receive quality services.”

He highlighted that this collaboration aligns with the government’s broader goals of achieving Universal Health Care, ensuring that children’s health is prioritized to improve their overall well-being and learning potential.