LEGAZPI CITY – More than half a million Bicolanos availed of the free medical services under the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama (Konsulta) program in 2024.
“Our members can avail themselves of this along with their dependents, where they can receive a free assessment of their medical conditions, and it also includes access to selected medications and laboratory tests,” she said.
Albay has 254,323 registered members; Camarines Norte has 242,655; Camarines Sur, 266,440; Catanduanes, 96,116; Masbate, 272,352; and Sorsogon, 539,890.
In an interview on Friday, PhilHealth 5 (Bicol) public affairs unit head Leri Ilagan said the program promotes preventive health care approaches to the 1.67 members who have registered as of 2024.
Of the registered Konsulta members, 545,506 have already availed of the program’s benefits.
Albay has recorded 54,073 registered members with first patient encounters; Camarines Norte, 74,827; Camarines Sur, 82,452; Catanduanes, 2,766; Masbate, 27,585; and Sorsogon, 303,803.
“In this Konsulta program, members just need to visit PhilHealth-accredited Konsulta providers, where they can avail of laboratory tests and medications if needed,” Ilagan added.
Bicol now has 149 accredited Konsulta providers.
Albay has 30 accredited Konsulta centers; Camarines Norte, 22, Camarines Sur, 37; Catanduanes, 12; Masbate, 19; and Sorsogon, 29.
In 2022, PhilHealth allotted PHP7.58 million to 149 Konsulta-accredited facilities. The amount rose to PHP24.99 million in 2023, and PHP233.90 million in 2024, totaling PHP266.47 million.
“Here in Legazpi, we already have many PhilHealth-accredited providers where members can easily receive assistance in their registration,” Ilagan said.
She urged members and their dependents to take advantage of the Konsulta program, which assures access to quality and affordable health care in the region. (With reports from Lily Nocomora/Kryselle Perez, OJTs/PNA|By Connie Calipay)
