In 2024, Pangasinan’s population reached 3 million, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
This is a large number of the target recipients of PhilHealth and the GUICONSULTA program, led by Governor Ramon V. Guico III.
The Universal Healthcare Act of 2019 mandates that all Filipinos should receive free, quality health services.
As a result, PhilHealth established the Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama or Konsulta Program.
This program aims to provide free check-ups and medicines at accredited health facilities, including maintenance medicine for high blood pressure.
However, despite the free consultation, check-ups, and medication, many Pangasinenses are unaware of this free service.
“And when we go around, I ask who gets check-ups, and no one does. In a crowd of 100, only 5 to 10 would raise their hand, and when I ask why they don’t go for check-ups, they say they don’t have money, transportation is expensive, and they have to miss work or leave their fields. Plus, if they’re diagnosed with something, they say they can’t afford medicine,” said Governor Ramon V. Guico III, Province of Pangasinan.
This inspired Governor Guico to push the Government Unified Incentives for Medical Consultation or GUICONSULTA Program.
According to Governor Guico, “The Pangasinan Government Unified Incentives for Medical Consultation, with PhilHealth’s Konsulta program, offers free check-ups and medication. The province will cover your transportation and food expenses, and even babies will receive money for transportation or milk.”
This program doesn’t just prioritize senior citizens; it also includes newborns.
This program aims to register 2 million Pangasinenses through the Electronic Medical Record System from this year until 2025.
“We enroll them; that’s our commitment with PhilHealth for the first and second tranches. This is what we call an electronic management record designed with an EMR provider to submit diagnoses from check-ups to PhilHealth, which will then pay the province and distribute funds to each LGU,” he mentioned.
Strict registration under the GUICONSULTA program will be implemented across the province’s fourteen provincial hospitals.
To expand the program, by the coming months, residents will also be able to register at municipal, city health offices, and rural health units.
The provincial government reminds everyone that registration is free of charge.
By: Valerie Dismaya
