The city government of Makati has extended the period of validity of its residents’ Yellow Cards from one year to three years effective October 10, and streamlined processing of medical services at the Ospital ng Makati.
“By extending the validity of the Yellow Card to three years, they will no longer need to submit requirements and fall in line every year,” Mayor Abby Binay said.
Residents who register or renew their Yellow Cards starting October 10 will next renew it in 2019.
The Yellow Card is the popular name for the Makati Health Plus (MHP) Program, which provides subsidized health care to residents, city workers and other qualified beneficiaries at OsMak and the city’s health centers, satellite laboratories and barangay birthing facilities.
In the past three months, the city government addressed the problems plaguing the OsMak including the lack of hospital supplies, non-functioning airconditioning units, and the long lines and delays in extending services to patients.
“After repairs which I ordered done in July, 60 percent of the air conditioning was restored,” Binay said.
“We have amended the AIP to include the purchase of new air conditioners for OsMaK and have asked the City Council to approve it immediately,” she said.
The mayor also cited a bar code system for the registration of patients of the hospital. “Bar code stickers are placed on the Yellow Card IDs of old patients already included in the database of patients so that each time they return to the hospital, their ID cards will be scanned to immediately activate their registration,” she said.
At the hospital lobby, new patients can choose between the assisted-registration kiosk or the self-registration kiosk. The latter is for computer-literate patients.
Nurses have been designated as physician assistants whoo explain and update doctors on a patient’s medical condition and test results without having to wait for the doctor.
To address overcrowding at the Emergency Room, OsMak has opened a discharge lounge for patients waiting for their discharge papers and the arrival of relatives. The hospital also provides free rides for patients treated for strokes or those who cannot commute to their homes.
Binay said despite the challenges faced by her administration, she was heartened by the support of the business sector, city officials and employees and the citizens of Makati.