Layout of Souvenir Program.pmd - galing pook

Bindoy, , Oriental NegrosHealth Insurance for the Poor“ Bawal magkasakit!” (It isforbidden to get sick!). This isthe tagline of a commercialadvertisement which highlighted thefact that medicines are prohibitivelyexpensive in the Philippines;especially for indigent families. But,in Bindoy, Oriental Negros, indigentfamilies are assured of anaffordable health insuranceprogram.A 2006 survey showed that 73percent of the 7,204 households inBindoy are indigents with a percapita income of less thanPhP11,480. To date, all of theseindigent households are covered bythe Bindoy Social Health InsuranceIndigency Program. Before theprogram was put in place, most ofthose who got sick and hospitalizedcould not afford the necessary drugsand medicines and often could notpay their hospital bills because theywere impoverished. Often, theywould choose to endure their illnessand would only go to the doctorwhen their health has deteriorated.That all changed in February 2002when the BSHIIP started.The BSHIIP aimed to provideaffordable and quality health careespecially to the poor. But, unlike inother areas, where the municipalgovernment assumed soleresponsibility for the local premiumcounterpart, Bindoy’s leadershipensured that the province,municipality, barangays, and thesponsored families contributed insustaining the program. Even thecongressional representativecontributed in the initial phase ofimplementation by providing thebasic equipment necessary for theprovision of the Outpatient BenefitPackage. The LGU also conductedan intensive information campaignabout the program’s benefits andsuccessfully encouraged the peopleto participate.The annual premium required toprovide PhilHealth coverage to anindigent family amounts toPhP1,200. The national governmentshoulders the bulk of the premiumcost depending on the incomeclassification of the LGU. For everybeneficiary that the LGU enrols intothe National Health InsuranceProgram, it earns a capitation fundof PhP300. As a result, Bindoy hasbeen earning PhP1.5 million peryear, which it re-channels for thepurchase of hospital equipment andmedicines that further improveshealth care delivery.In the initial year of implementation,the households’ membership in theprogram was offered at no cost. Butin the second year, a BSHIIP18 • Galing Pook 2007