Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 26) — The government-run Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) is stepping up efforts to encourage private practitioners to join its roster of primary care providers.
At the hearing of the House health committee on Wednesday, PhilHealth spokesperson Dr. Albert Domingo said only 12% or 249 out of 2,161 primary health care providers accredited by the state health insurer are from the private sector.
Domingo cited the low fee of ₱750 per enrolled patient that PhilHealth pays to a private health provider yearly as a reason some health care practitioners aren’t interested in becoming its partner as a primary care provider.
He added that the voluminous requirements for accreditation could also be a factor.
Data presented by PhilHealth at the hearing showed that 1,096 private health care establishments are accredited by PhilHealth, while 776 are government funded institutions.
Domingo said PhilHealth is working on adjusting contractual arrangements and fees paid to private health care providers. Efforts are also underway to provide them with technical assistance to make accreditation easier, he added.
Under PhilHealth’s primary outpatient health care program, enrolled members can avail of free medical consultations, drugs and laboratory tests from accredited providers.
