The Pasig City government and Unilab Foundation Inc. (ULF) have partnered to strengthen primary health care, improve PhilHealth-related processes and expand mental health support for students and communities.

The agreement was signed by Pasig Mayor Victor Ma. Regis “Vico” Sotto and ULF Executive Director Jose Maria “Joey” Ochave and will be implemented through the Pasig Local Health Board and ULF’s Sustainable Healthcare and Heads Up PH programs.

The partnership seeks to translate Universal Health Care policies into more efficient services at the local level, particularly for residents who rely on city health facilities for consultations, referrals, continuing care and access to government health benefits.

Under the memorandum of understanding, Pasig and ULF will work to strengthen the city’s primary health care system, improve efficiency in local health financing, support the implementation of school mental health programs and improve PhilHealth utilization and claims performance.

One area of cooperation will be a review of Pasig’s health financing system, including expenditures, PhilHealth benefit utilization and the filing and reimbursement of claims.

The review seeks to identify ways to improve claims processing, reduce delays and help the city maximize PhilHealth revenues that can be used to sustain and improve local health services.

The partners will also examine bottlenecks involving PhilHealth YAKAP registration, documentation, facility accreditation and claims submission across city health facilities.

Simplified processes and possible digital solutions will be explored to make transactions more efficient for health workers and patients.

The initiative supports Republic Act 11223, or the Universal Health Care Act, which automatically includes all Filipinos in the National Health Insurance Program and places greater emphasis on primary and preventive care.

Mental health support

Mental health services for children and young people will also be a major component of the partnership.

Through its Heads Up PH program, ULF will provide technical assistance and capacity-building to help school personnel recognize early signs of mental health concerns, promote supportive school environments and establish referral pathways to qualified professionals.

The partnership will also assess gaps in coordination among schools, families, communities and health service providers.

Rather than requiring teachers to act as mental health professionals, the program seeks to equip them with the knowledge and systems to recognize possible concerns and connect students with appropriate support.

The agreement also seeks to integrate mental health services into the broader health system to provide continuity of care covering prevention, promotion, treatment and rehabilitation.

The World Health Organization estimates that one in seven adolescents worldwide experiences a mental health condition, with anxiety and depression among the leading causes of illness and disability among young people.

Pasig and ULF will use measurable indicators to monitor referral efficiency, PhilHealth utilization, claims performance, patient navigation and school-based mental health initiatives.

Progress will be periodically reviewed to allow programs and processes to be adjusted based on results.

ULF has previously worked with the Ateneo School of Government on research into how local governments can optimize health spending under the UHC Law, with technical collaboration from the Department of Budget and Management.

The foundation has also partnered with Ormoc City to strengthen health services in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas and with the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines to support local UHC implementation.

In Pasig, the city will provide local leadership, health personnel and facilities, while ULF will contribute technical expertise, research and program development support.

The partnership forms part of the Sotto administration’s efforts to make health services more accessible and responsive to Pasig residents.