BENEFIT PACKAGE PARA TULDUKAN ANG MALNUTRITION INILUNSAD NG PHILHEALTH

SA pagtukoy ni Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) CEO and President Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. sa negatibong epekto ng malnutrion sa kabataan na mahinang cognitive development, kaya naman isang health benefit package ang inilunsad nitong October 1.

“Severely malnourished children of school age develop substantial cognitive deficits that result in grade repetition. Even if they survive into adulthood, they are far less likely to be employed in the formal sector and of nowhere earning potential, conditions that further perpetuate the cycle for their own children,” ayon kay Ledesma.

Kaya naman sanib-puwersa ang PhilHealth, Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Deveolopment (DSWD), National Nutrition Council at United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), sa paglulunsad sa bagong benefit package upang tuldukan ang malnutrition sa mga kabataang Pinoy.

Tinawag itong “Outpatient Therapeutic Care for Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM),” sasakop sa assement, counseling, treatment, provide medicines and therapeutic food at follow-up visits.

Sinabi naman ni Dr. Israel Francis Pargas, PhilHealth Senior Vice President for Health Finance Policy Sector and Spokesperson, ang makikinabang sa bagong health benefit package ng state health insurer ay ang mga kabataan mula sa 0 age hanggang anim na taong gulang.

Ang nasa edad 0 hangang 6 na buwan na beneficiaries ay makatatanggap ng P7,500 habang P17,000 para sa 6 months hanggang  60 months.

Sinabi naman ni UNICEF Philippines Representative Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov na ang bagong health benefit package ang unang pakete ng SAM primary care at social health financing na pinondohan sa pamamagitan ng national health insurance.

EUNICE CELARIO