The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) have signed a two-year memorandum of agreement (MOA), aimed at strengthening member protection, promoting patient rights, and expanding access to legal support for Filipinos under the Universal Health Care (UHC) program.
PhilHealth president and chief executive officer, Dr. Edwin Mercado, and IBP National President and chairperson of the 27th Board of Governors, Atty. Allan Panolong, led the signing ceremony at the IBP Building in Pasig City.
The agreement establishes a framework for collaboration between PhilHealth and the country’s national organization of lawyers to improve support systems for PhilHealth members, particularly in addressing concerns related to healthcare benefits, patient rights, and access to information.
Under the partnership, PhilHealth and IBP will work together to promote greater awareness of members’ rights and entitlements under the UHC Act through joint information and education campaigns. The two institutions will also collaborate on policy initiatives that seek to enhance patient welfare and improve the delivery of healthcare services.
The agreement also covers collaboration in health law and policy development, capacity-building programs, continuing legal education for PhilHealth lawyers, and fraud prevention efforts.
These initiatives are expected to strengthen PhilHealth’s ability to deliver responsive services and ensure that members receive the benefits and protections they are entitled to under the law.
A key feature of the agreement is the provision of free legal aid activities for qualified PhilHealth members, particularly those who are indigent or marginalized, on matters related to healthcare benefits and claims. PhilHealth will support these initiatives by providing the necessary information and documentation to facilitate legal assistance, it said in a press release.
The partnership will likewise support the enhancement of existing dispute resolution mechanisms within PhilHealth to further improve service delivery and ensure that member concerns and benefit-related issues are addressed in a timely, fair, and efficient manner.
Through this partnership, PhilHealth reaffirms its commitment to protecting the interests of its members and advancing UHC by ensuring that every Filipino not only has access to health insurance coverage, but is also equipped with the information, support, and legal safeguards needed to fully enjoy their healthcare rights. ||
