Text by Jeniffer Manongdo
Photos by Sarah Hazel Pulumbarit
The University of the Philippines (UP) Manila, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Mar. 24, 2025, ensuring that all students from state colleges and universities (SUCs), and faculty members and staff of Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Institutions can avail of PhilHealth benefits including the Konsulta (outpatient) benefit package.
In the MOU, CHED and UP Manila will be working together to assist the registration of faculty, support staff and students with PhilHealth as well as provide support for the accreditation of SUCs to become accredited Konsulta providers. Aside from this, CHED and UP Manila will also support accredited institutions in the preparation and submission of claims according to PhilHealth guidelines. In turn, PhilHealth will facilitate the registration and accreditation support to CHED, SUCs, and local government units and establish a system for the submission and processing of Konsulta claims from accredited providers.
Konsulta is Philhealth’s comprehensive outpatient benefits package covering primary care consultation, access to selected diagnostic services and medicines. These services are accessible in accredited PhilHealth Konsulta Package Providers (KPP). In 2024, PhilHealth accredited its first school-based clinic as Konsulta Package Provider (KPP) in Novaliches, Quezon City.
“Kapag na-confine ang isang pasyente, talagang magki-kick-in ang PhilHealth bilang first payor. Ang aming misyon ay ibaba ang out-of-pocket expenses ng ating mga kababayan—mula sa 44.8%, target naming bumaba ito sa 25-30% in the next three years,” Philhealth President & CEO Dr. Edwin M. Mercado said during the MOA signing activity.
“Hindi lang ito nakasalalay sa PhilHealth, kundi pati sa DOH at state universities lalo na iyong may government hospital components or may college of medicine component,” he added.
CHED Chairperson Popoy De Vera highlighted the partnership between the three institutions in ensuring healthcare services to its intended beneficiaries.
