Ordinance on free comprehensive medical check-ups for further study

THE Committee on Health, Nutrition and Health Insurance, chaired by Councilor Maria Lourdes S. Gaane, endorsed for further study the proposed ordinance providing for free annual comprehensive medical check-ups and laboratory exams to all residents of Cagayan de Oro especially the senior citizens, solo parents, and persons with disabilities.

This, after Dr. Ina Grace Chiu of the City Health Office (CHO), cited that the department has limited resources as of this time.

“We fully support the ordinance regarding the annual (free checkup), but kaning comprehensive murag dili siguro namo kaya sa CHO kay when we say comprehensive, apil gyud ang blood chemistry, but what we have is only the basic like CBC, urinalysis, stool exam, X-ray, and maybe ECG. So mao ra na ang naa karon sa amo and dili pa gyud sila “free” kay gasingil mi og minimal lang to sustain the laboratory,” the medical officer explained.

She also said that even if the revised edition of the ordinance will no longer include a provision on appropriation considering that it shall be part of the implementation of the Konsulta+ program of PhilHealth, the city still cannot accommodate prospective patients due to its limited number of e-konsulta centers accredited by the Department of Health (DOH) and licensed by PhilHealth. These include Barangays Lapasan, Carmen, Nazareth, Tablon, and CHO.

Other deficiencies mentioned are the lack of manpower, supplies, non-issuance of License to Operate (LTO) to the city’s satellite laboratories, and an area of at least 20 square meters for laboratory building as required by the DOH.

“Lima ra kabuok ang e-konsulta centers so dili gyud ta mag expect na kaning mga gi-priority na sector maatiman. Ug tan-awon pa sad nato ang tubag sa CHIO kung naa ba gyud mga claims.

Otherwise, once this is approved, magdasok ang atong mga pasyente pero ang atong claims hinay kaayo ug dili maka sustain. Magyaw-yaw na sad ni sila kay walay mga consumables, walay mga agents for laboratories, so boomerang na sad sa City. Maayo man gyud ang e-konsulta kung maayo pud ang pag process sa inyong claims sa PhilHealth kay diha raman gyud makabawi, ROI man gyud na,” Councilor Gaane further manifested.