Around 1,500 beneficiaries, including 300 pregnant women from the local government units of Olongapo, Subic, Castillejos, and San Marcelino, gathered together to avail of medical and social services from various government agencies during the 26th leg of the LAB for All Caravan of First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos held on May 21, 2024, at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center, Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales.
LAB for All stands for “Laboratoryo, Konsulta, at Gamot Para sa Lahat” and is the flagship project of FL Marcos aimed to bring essential government services closer to the people, especially those who are in need.
For its part, PhilHealth registered the beneficiaries and facilitated their first patient encounter with their chosen Konsulta Package Providers present onsite. Konsulta, which stands for Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama, is PhilHealth’s expanded primary care benefit package that aims to protect the health of every Filipino against chronic illnesses through prevention and early detection of diseases.
The package includes consultations, health screening and assessment, 21 essential drugs and medicines, and 15 laboratory procedures that can be availed of by patients depending on their risks and as recommended by their Konsulta Package Providers.
In his message of support, PhilHealth President and CEO Emmanuel R. Ledesma, Jr. expressed his appreciation to the partner LGUs for ensuring that their rural health units and even LGU-run health facilities are accredited with Konsulta. “Such a move goes a long way in ensuring your constituents are healthy and productive.” Ledesma also urged partners, “let us continue to work together for the health and overall well-being of our kababayans,” he stressed.
Janton Navarro, a senior citizen and one of the beneficiaries from Castillejos, Zambales, was appreciative of the program as he registered himself and his wife onsite for the Konsulta Package. “Nagpapasalamat ako sa PhilHealth dahil sa malaking tulong lalo sa mahihirap na hindi kayang magpaospital dahil sa laki ng gastusin lalo pa at mga seniors na kami. Noong na-confine ako ay wala akong binayaran sa ospital. Ipagpatuloy ninyo ang magandang serbisyo sa mamamayang Filipino. Salamat sa ahensyang tulad ng PhilHealth,” he said.