Caloocan, Navotas provide health cards for indigents

MANILA, Philippines –  Thousands of poor families in Caloocan and Navotas were given health cards by their respective government units for easy access to hospital services.

Caloocan City Mayor Enrico Echiverri said yesterday at least 10,000 poor families, identified by the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the local social welfare office, were given Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) cards.

He said the city government will pay an annual premium of P1,200 for each family given PhilHealth cards so residents could pay less for hospital services.

In Navotas City, Mayor John Rey Tiangco said at least 3,000 health cards – which entitled beneficiaries to a P5,000 subsidy in government-designated hospitals – were given to indigent families under the Navotas Hospitalization Program (NHP).

Tiangco said the local government-issued card is different from the PhilHealth card, which entitles the holder to P25,000 hospitalization subsidy.

He said hospitals covered by the NHP health cards are Tondo Medical Center, Dr. Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center, Metropolitan Hospital, and the Valenzuela Medical Center.