Small town's indigents get health privileges

The town of Bindoy, Negros Oriental has an indigent population comprising 73% of its total resident families. With a per capita income of less than P11,480, these families are hard pressed by everyday living expenses, more so when sickness befalls them. Any illness is to be endured, and medical treatment is only a last resort. Yet a municipal program has successfully addressed this by ensuring that all these indigent households have affordable health insurance.

Amazingly, participants in the Bindoy Social Health Insurance Indigency Program (BSHIIP) pay for it themselves. In 2006, 612 beneficiaries had availed of hospitalization benefits and 4,406 had sought primary consultation. Some 3,254 beneficiaries have also availed of complimentary Outpatient Benefit Packages (OBP) provided at no cost by the rural health unit diagnostic lab.

Unlike other programs where government completely shoulders costs, Bindoy's leadership decided that the province, municipality, barangays and the sponsored families would all play a part. In the initial phase of the program, the congressional representative contributed by providing basic equipment for the OBP. Meantime, the LGU launched an intensive information campaign on the program's benefits and to encourage participation.

PhilHealth coverage for an indigent family costs P1,200 a year. The national government covers the bulk of the premium cost depending on an LGU's income classification. When BSHIIP started in 2002, membership was offered at no cost. At present, a BSHIIP member is required to pay P120 as an annual premium counterpart. The LGU dubbed it the "Innovative Sharing Scheme of the Local Premium Counterpart" and when a household could not pay in cash, they were allowed to pay in kind or render service to the barangay. Rural health workers collected the contributions. For every beneficiary that the LGU enrolls to PhilHealth, it earns a capitation fund of P300, which it pools for the purchase of hospital equipment and for the improvement of health services.

The community has gotten so involved in the program that in the past three years, household collection has averaged 92%. The household counterpart contribution has also reached over P1.3 million, which is even higher than the municipal allocation of P955,000.

"The BSHIIP is now a model in health care delivery for those who seek to replicate the gains it has achieved. The much improved health facility and upgraded health service capabilities are now sites for study tours from different LGUs and NGOs all over the country," said Rafael Coscolluela, chair of the Galing Pook Foundation.

For this achievement, Bindoy will be honored with the Galing Pook Award. The BSHIIP will be recognized as among the top ten outstanding local governance programs of the year.

The annual awards selects exemplary programs in local governance nationwide based on its positive effects, encouraging people's participation, the sustainability and transferability of the program, and the efficiency of service delivery.

"Bindoy's accomplishment proves that rather than just contributing funds, local government units can produce innovative and highly participative programs for their people," added Coscolluela.

Photos courtesy of Jimmy Domingo