DAGUPAN CITY, Oct. 6 (PNA) — The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) has passed a resolution authorizing Mayor Belen Fernandez to enter into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Philippine Health and Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) in Region 1 or any hospital in the city, and partner health specialists, for the establishment of a diagnostic and lying-in center here.
The resolution authored by Councilor Jesus Canto, chairman on the SP committee on health, stated that there is a need for the Dagupan City government to establish and maintain the operation of a diagnostic and lying-in clinic to ensure that indigent families have equal access to quality maternity and infant care and reduce infant deaths as well as improve maternal health.
The diagnostic and lying-in clinic should be accredited by PhilHealth to the Maternity Care Package and Newborn Care Package Programs, to have access to reimbursement for the health care packages.
According to Canto, a doctor by profession and former director of R1MC, the diagnostic and lying-in clinic should operate with a license from the Department of Health (DOH) to maintain quality standards in the provision of health care.
The city government, in compliance with DOH’s licensing requirements and PhilHealth’s accreditation requirements, shall establish linkages and partnerships with PhilHealth, DOH, Region 1 Medical Center (R1MC) or any hospital in the city and health specialists and pediatricians, through a MOA and or other instruments.
Canto noted that the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) provides reimbursements for primary care benefit package, TB-DOTS and maternity care and newborn care services to qualified indigent families in the city.
Under the program funded by the national government, the identification of qualified beneficiaries or poor families is to be determined by Department of Social Welfare and Development. (PNA)