Photo courtesy of Liza Agoot/PNA
Baguio City’s Health Services Office is onboarding private hospitals and reinforcing the city’s health care provider network to help residents access benefits under the Universal Health Care Law.
City Health Officer Dr. Celia Flor Brillantes said the initiative aims to relieve patients of administrative burdens, with HSO and partner hospitals handling paperwork and fund transfers directly.
The announcement came during the 3rd Baguio City Health Care Provider Network summit at the Baguio Country Club on Thursday, a biennial event for health officials.
Attendees included officers and doctors from Saint Louis University Hospital of the Sacred Heart, Notre Dame de Chartres Hospital, Pines City Doctors Hospital, Camp Dangwa Hospital, and the Philippine Military Academy infirmary.
The network primarily connects private hospitals with local health centers, allowing patients to be referred to the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center if higher-level care is needed.
Brillantes said the focus is on strengthening referrals, system interoperability, and financing, ensuring patients can receive care without paying out of pocket.
She noted that patients referred to private network hospitals may pay a small co-payment of PHP600 to PHP800, while referrals to the city’s main hospital remain free.
Dr. Dominga Gadgad of PhilHealth-Cordillera emphasized that universal health coverage aims to provide all Filipinos with treatment and preventive care, and she urged the city to expedite equipment procurement and medicine supplies across district health centers.
