House Bill That Aims To Include An Annual Free Medical Check-Up

A bill that aims to include an annual free medical check-up in addition to the existing benefits that Filipinos may avail through the National Health Insurance Program has been filed in Congress by Congressman Anthony Golez of the Malasakit at Bayanihan.

To promote health, identify risks, and ensure early diagnosis, all Filipino citizens who are also members of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) will receive the applicable benefits under the National Health Insurance Program including a free annual medical check-up in the Act.

The Department of Health will establish a system  that allows access to an annual medical check-up program that includes physical examination, screening, laboratory and diagnostic tests, and follow up consultation to members of PhilHealth for free. Additionally, the availment of the Annual Medical Check-Up Program will be available for the whole calendar year.

However, the bill recommends that the patient should first be physically examined and screened by a PhilHealth-accredited primary care provider to evaluate the patient based on their needs, and identify which laboratory and diagnostic tests should be administered to the patient by a PhilHealth-accredited health care institution, and that the corresponding medical consultation after the release of the test results shall be done by a PhilHealth-accredited health care professional as well.

PhilHealth will accredit health care professionals, primary health care providers and health care institutions which will administer the physical examination, screening, laboratory and diagnostic tests and consultation provided under the Annual Medical Check-Up Program based on its existing guidelines.

Similarly, Local Government Units are encouraged to register their health facilities and rural health units for accreditation of PhilHealth and ensure that there are enough PhilHealth-accredited health facilities that are accessible to their constituents.

To implement this act, an amount from the total revenue of PhilHealth, which is composed of premium contributions from direct contributors and premium subsidies of the government for the indirect contributors will be charged.