Wednesday, February 23, 2011

PhilHealth official says hospitals in EV now almost all are accredited

TACLOBAN CITY – The top official of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation in this region revealed that hospitals in Eastern Visayas are now accredited with Philhealth except for the five hospitals that have yet to comply with the accreditation requirements set by the government in order for their patients to avail the benefits that is provided by the government- run insurance company.

In an interview with Philhealth Regional Director Walter Bacareza, he revealed that despite their call to the management of these hospitals for them to have their facility be accredited with their agency,the management of these hospitals still failed to do so.

The five hospitals that are not yet accredited with Philhealth are located in San Vicente, Northern Samar, Homonhon and Oras in Eastern Samar, Gandara in Samar and a private hospital in Bato, Leyte.

For the hospital in San Vicente, Bacareza explained that the problem why they cannot issue an accreditation was the lack of doctors who will facilitate and run said hospital.

“Although they were given license by the Department of Health, the Philhealth cannot issue accreditation to the hospital even if there is a facility because of said problem,” Bacareza added.

However, the hospital in Oras is now under repair particularly the roof and ceiling of the building.

To address some of the problems that are being faced by those hospitals, Bacareza said that together with the different local government executives in the region and the Department of Health they are appealing that doctors be assigned in these doctor-less hospitals.

“We are calling all doctors, especially those who are from the region, to help us in providing health services to the people, especially in the areas where their services are really needed,” said Bacareza.

He added that for this year they are targeting to have a 100% accreditation of all hospitals in the region.

“We are confident that we can accredit them all, except for hospitals with no doctors; we cannot issue accreditation to them,” he stressed.

Accreditation of hospitals is among the top priority of Philhealth as it will ensure Philhealth members with insurance rendered by them.

Aside from the insurance, the accreditation also guarantees the quality of medical services provided by the hospitals as it is part of the requirement before any hospitals that can be accredited with Philhealth. (ROEL AMAZONA)

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