Gov. Espino, Jr. has distributed another 2,000 PhilHealth cards...

LINGAYEN --- Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. has distributed another 2,000 PhilHealth cards in 58 barangays of Umingan, Pangasinan last March 3.

Gov. Espino said the distribution of PhilHealth cards is part of the province’s development thrusts of providing health services mainly to the poor populace of Pangasinan even as he stressed that “we will not stop until all indigent families in our province are enrolled in PhilHealth, regardless of their political color or party affiliation.”

He also noted that from the original enrollment level of only 26,000 indigent families in 2007, a big leap has occurred when the province overtook the province of Bukidnon and emerged on top of all provinces with 220,000 indigent families enrolled in PhilHealth insurance in 2009.

Pangasinan was adjudged the best province in the country besting 56 other provinces and 30 cities nationwide for having the largest universal coverage in PhilHealth sponsorship.

PhilHealth members are entitled to a wide range of benefits which the Governor said, is a big relief to the marginalized sector of the society who can now easily get access to quality health care services.

Aside from health insurance, the indigent sector in Pangasinan can also avail of the upgraded services and facilities of all 14 government-owned hospitals which have undergone continuing physical rehabilitation and are now equipped with air conditioning in all wards, stand-by generating sets, better diagnostic capabilities, re-conditioned and new ambulance units, clean surroundings and efficient hospital staff.

Gov. Espino received a national award from Philippine Health Insurance with the province’s phenomenal performance in PhilHealth sponsorship last February 12 held at the PICC. (PIO/Darwin Magalong)