Wednesday, March 28, 2018
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

Rep. Alfredo Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) yesterday described the Negros Occidental Comprehensive Health Program as one of the most successful programs that has ever been launched in the province.

“NOCHP has made a big, big change and difference in Negros Occidental, with the program growing by leaps and bounds,” Benitez, whose district registered the highest number of health program beneficiaries, stressed during the pre-summit on health, held yesterday in Talisay City, Negros Occidental.

NOCHP records show that, as of last month, it has already enrolled 261,426 Negrense families in the program, with almost one million beneficiaries, since its implementation in 2010, when Benitez started his term as congressman of the 3rd district, and Alfredo Marañon Jr. as governor of Negros Occidental.

In the same period, 319,576 Negrenses have availed of free hospitalization through NOCHP, while the provincial government spent P176.7 million in hospital expenses.
The NOCHP has been implemented for more than seven years to date, and was also hailed by Marañon as the most successful health program of the provincial government, with the help of NegOcc solons, especially Benitez, who is a staunch supporter of the medical assistance program.

Stressing that health is wealth, Marañon yesterday told participants of the pre-summit that 40 percent of the entire budget of the province annually is allocated for health programs.

Benitez reported that 72,070 of the 90,000 families in the 3rd district of Negros Occidental, that is composed of the municipalities of EB Magalona and Murcia, and the cities of Victorias, Silay and Talisay, are covered by NOCHP.

Its beneficiaries are entitled to free hospitalization in any of the 11 government hospitals in Negros Occidental, Marañon said.

Benitez clarified that the NOCHP is not deviating from the main health program of the national government, as it is anchored on PhilHealth, being the first responder of health-related issues.

If there are shortages of support given by PhilHealth, Benitez said NOCHP will come in.

After providing them with the solution to their medical needs, Benitez stressed the need to upgrade the delivery of medical services in government hospitals.

“We need to ensure that the services given to them are at par, or basically giving them the right program,” he added.

NOCHP records further showed that the 3rd district also posted the highest number of patients with 93,665, followed by the 2nd district – 84,875, 4th district - 56,175, 6th district – 43,382, 5th district - 30,968, and 1st district – 10,511.

In terms of NOCHP enrollment, the 6th district ranked second with 55,704 enrolled families, 2nd district - 50,229 families, 4th district - 36,523 families, 5th district - 26,420 families, and 1st district with 20,480 families.*