Taguig city: The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) and St. Luke's Medical Center - Global City on Tuesday signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) aimed at strengthening the implementation of the No Co-Payment Policy and expanding access to quality and affordable healthcare services for qualified PhilHealth members. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. witnessed the signing ceremony at St. Luke's in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.
According to Philippines News Agency, Marcos stated that the partnership between PhilHealth and St. Luke's will help ease the financial burden on patients and their families while expanding access to quality healthcare. 'The MOA between PhilHealth and St. Luke's Medical Center - Global City reflects a shared commitment to strengthen the implementation of the No Co-Payment Policy and to support the government's Universal Health Care agenda,' he said.
'By joining this effort, St. Luke's also sends an important message: that quality care in leading private hospitals can be made more accessible to qualified PhilHealth members, and that both government and the private sector have a role in making Universal Health Care work.' The agreement strengthens the shared commitment of the government and private healthcare sector to provide Filipinos with easier access to quality and affordable healthcare services and benefits.
Marcos emphasized that getting sick is already difficult, noting that the cost of treatment can add to the burden faced by families. He pointed out that patients seek care at private hospitals for specialized expertise, advanced equipment, and complex treatments required by their medical conditions. 'Anyone can suddenly face a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment or specialized care. Choosing a private hospital like St. Luke's does not necessarily mean that the patient or family can readily afford the cost of treatment,' Marcos said.
He explained that the partnership would make quality care in leading private hospitals more accessible to qualified PhilHealth members. For patients, the agreement could mean 'less worrying time about whether treatment is within reach, more time focusing on getting better,' he said. 'For a family, it can mean relief from the fear that one medical emergency can consume their savings or force them to choose between treatment and other basic needs,' Marcos added.
Marcos also highlighted that for the healthcare system, it means bringing together the strengths of the public and private sectors to better serve more Filipinos. He thanked PhilHealth and St. Luke's for their cooperation and urged them to continue removing financial, geographic, and institutional barriers to healthcare. He noted that public-private partnerships such as the St. Luke's-PhilHealth agreement are necessary to bring together the strengths of both sectors and better serve Filipinos.
PhilHealth president and chief executive officer (CEO) Beverly Ho and St. Luke's president and CEO Dennis Serrano represented their respective institutions during the signing ceremony witnessed by Marcos. Under the MOA, which is backed by the Department of Health, PhilHealth and St. Luke's will work together to improve the patient experience by providing eligible PhilHealth members with assistance in navigating their benefits, completing requirements, and processing necessary documentation.
Ho mentioned that St. Luke's has initially allocated around 53 beds for patients covered by the No Co-Payment Policy, particularly those who need specialized care or treatment that may also be available in public hospitals but could entail waiting due to patient backlogs. 'So, tutulungan po tayo ng St. Luke's na makapag-serve ng mas maraming patients na hindi po sila kailangang magdagdag bayad (St. Luke's will help us serve more patients without requiring them to pay additional fees),' she said.
Ho clarified that eligibility is limited to PhilHealth members who meet the requirements for select cases covered by the agreement. She noted that there are around 50 patients currently identified in the records, adding that the number is expected to increase following the launch of the initiative.
