NOCHP will support health care bill: Albee
BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Friday, December 21, 2018
The Negros Occidental Health Care Program (NOCHP) is not in conflict with the Universal Health Care bill, that is set to be signed by President Rodrigo Duterte into law, its staunch supporter, Rep. Alfredo Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) said last night.
Benitez, who started implementing the NOCHP in the 3rd district in tandem with the provincial government of Negros Occidental in 2010, said that the health care program is a secondary health insurance system.
“We are using PhilHealth, or the Universal Health Care, as the foundation for NOCHP, he said, adding that it will further increase the health insurance system for beneficiaries in Negros Occidental,” he said.
Earlier, Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. assured Negrenses that NOCHP which is also supported by Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson will continue.
In the 3rd district of Negros Occidental alone, NOCHP has more than 71,000 beneficiaries.
Marañon, who launched the NOCHP after he started his term as governor of Negros Occidental in 2010, in tandem with Negros solons, said its beneficiaries are the poorest of the poor families.
But Marañon also said there is a need to further improve hospital facilities, with NOCHP enrolled families already at their peak.
A NOCHP member is entitled to free hospitalization if treated at or admitted to any of the 11 government-managed hospitals in Negros Occidental.*