Proposed Medical Assistance and Health Navigation Program Okd on First Reading

The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Bacolod has approved on First Reading a proposed ordinance authored by Councilor Atty. Caesar Z. Distrito, with Councilors Celia Flor and Al Victor Espino as co-authors, establishing the Bacolod Medical Assistance and Health Navigation Program (BMAHNP).

The proposed measure seeks to institutionalize a citywide healthcare assistance and referral system that will help Bacolod residents navigate the various medical assistance programs available through PhilHealth, Malasakit Centers, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), government hospitals, and other public and private healthcare assistance providers.

Under the proposal, the City Government will establish Medical Assistance and Health Navigation Desks in strategic locations, including the Bacolod City Government Center, the City Health Office, government hospitals, selected health centers, and barangay facilities. These desks will assist residents in understanding healthcare benefits, completing documentary requirements, facilitating referrals, and connecting patients to appropriate medical assistance programs.

One of the key features of the ordinance is the adoption of a “No Wrong Door Policy,” ensuring that every Bacolod resident seeking healthcare assistance from any city office will be properly guided or referred instead of being turned away simply because another office has jurisdiction over the concern.

“This ordinance is not about creating another medical assistance program. It is about making existing assistance programs easier to access. Many Bacolodnons spend valuable time going from one office to another just to determine where they can seek help. Through a centralized health navigation system, we can guide our constituents to the right office, the right program, and ultimately the healthcare assistance they need,” Atty. Distrito said.

The proposed ordinance underscored the importance of ensuring that vulnerable sectors are not deprived of available healthcare benefits simply because they lack information or assistance.

“Healthcare should be accessible not only in terms of medical services but also in the process of obtaining assistance. This ordinance will help senior citizens, persons with disabilities, solo parents, indigent families, and other vulnerable sectors navigate the system with dignity and confidence,” Councilor Flor said.

Also, it emphasized that strengthening coordination among government agencies will enable the City Government to serve residents more efficiently.

“Many government programs already exist to help patients, but people often do not know where to begin. By creating an organized referral and assistance system, we can reduce unnecessary delays, eliminate confusion, and ensure that Bacolodnons receive timely support during some of the most difficult moments in their lives,” Councilor Espino said.

If enacted, the ordinance will authorize the designation of Health Navigation Officers, establish a medical assistance information system consistent with the Data Privacy Act, strengthen partnerships with PhilHealth, the Department of Health, Malasakit Centers, PCSO, DSWD, hospitals, charitable institutions, and other stakeholders, and require sustained public information campaigns to educate residents on available healthcare benefits.*