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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PhilHealth, DOH to pursue first shared agenda aligning benefits, health programs

PhilHealth, DOH to pursue first shared agenda aligning benefits, health programs

Published Aug 20, 2026 06:57 pm

At A Glance

  • • PhilHealth and the DOH will pursue their first common agenda for the health sector.
  • • The Unified National Agenda for Health will focus on cooperation, progress, and recognition.
  • • PhilHealth benefits will be aligned with existing DOH programs to improve continuity of care.
(PHOTO: PHILHEALTH)
(PHOTO: PHILHEALTH)
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and the Department of Health (DOH) will pursue their first shared health agenda to align PhilHealth benefits with existing government health programs, PhilHealth President and CEO Beverly Lorraine Ho said.
She said the Unified National Agenda for Health (UNA) will focus on cooperation, progress, and recognition of the contributions of local government units (LGUs), partner institutions, and healthcare workers.
“And we know at this point in time, PhilHealth can do so much more. So ang aming shared agenda po ay tinatawag na Unified National Agenda for Health or UNA. Una sa pagtutulungan, una sa pag-usad, at una sa pagkilala. (So our shared agenda is called the Unified National Agenda for Health or UNA. First in cooperation, first in progress, and first in recognition),” Ho said during a media briefing on Thursday, Aug. 20.
Ho said this marks the first time PhilHealth and the DOH will pursue a common agenda for the country’s health sector.
“For many of you who’ve been covering the health sector, this is the first time that we will actually be having a shared agenda with the DOH,” she said.
Under the agenda, she explained that every PhilHealth benefit will be aligned with existing DOH programs to ensure continuity in the healthcare services received by Filipinos.
“Una sa pagtutulungan, para tuloy-tuloy ang alagang dama ng bawat Pilipino, every PhilHealth benefit will be aligned to existing DOH programs. (First in cooperation. To ensure that every Filipino continuously feels cared for, every PhilHealth benefit will be aligned with existing DOH programs),” she said.
Ho cited the expansion of PhilHealth’s Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP), which provides primary-care services such as consultations, laboratory tests, preventive screening, and prescribed outpatient medicines, in schools and workplaces.
“For example, we’re currently scaling up YAKAP in schools and workplaces to widen primary care access, while DOH strengthens interagency coordination and health promotion in those same settings,” she said.
She added that the DOH will promote healthy habits and health literacy, while PhilHealth will help ensure that Filipinos have access to consultations and medicines when needed.
“Para mapanatiling malusog ang bawat Pilipino, DOH will enable the healthy habits, health literacy, but PhilHealth ang magsisiguro na may access sa konsultasyon at gamot kapag kailangan. (To keep every Filipino healthy, the DOH will promote healthy habits and health literacy, while PhilHealth will ensure access to consultations and medicines when needed),” Ho said.
The new PhilHealth chief said the state health insurer will continue to expand access points, improve its benefit packages, and ensure the quality of care received by its members.
“Ang trabaho namin ngayon ay ituloy ang pagsulong ng mga programang ito by increasing access points, improving benefit packages, and ensuring that every member receives not just any care, but quality care. (Our task now is to sustain the progress of these programs by increasing access points, improving benefit packages, and ensuring that every member receives not just any care, but quality care),” she said.
“We want our progress to reach the people who need it most,” she added.
As such, Ho acknowledged the role of LGUs, partner institutions, frontliners, and other stakeholders in advancing the government’s health programs.
“Una sa pagkilala, every win is shared with our LGUs, partners, and frontliners, and that includes all of you. (First in recognition. Every achievement is shared with our LGUs, partners, and frontliners, and that includes all of you),” she said.
She said PhilHealth will remain open to feedback and questions as it fulfills its mandate under the Universal Health Care Act.

Related Tags

PhilHealth Department of Health DOH Unified National Agenda for Health UNA Beverly Lorraine Ho health programs healthcare benefits LGUs Philippines healthcare
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