PhilHealth, BJMP seal partnership to expand healthcare access for PDLs

THE PHILIPPINE Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to ensure that persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) across the country are registered with PhilHealth and can access

comprehensive healthcare benefits.

This agreement is expected to strengthen healthcare delivery for more than 80,000 PDLs in 28 BJMP facilities nationwide through the accreditation of BJMP clinics and the provision of PhilHealth benefits including services under the YAKAP program.

The MOA was signed by PhilHealth’s Acting President and Chief Executive Officer Beverly Lorraine C. Ho, MD, MPH, and BJMP’s Jail Director Efren A. Nemeño, DPA, TLPE, underscoring the commitment of both institutions to advancing health equity and improving healthcare access for one of the country’s most vulnerable sectors.

“Universal Health Care means every Filipino, including those in detention. Through partnerships like this, PhilHealth is working alongside our fellow government agencies to make sure that no Filipino is left outside the reach of care,” said Ho.

Reinforcing the significance of the partnership, Nemeño said: “By ensuring the automatic enrollment of our PDLs under the National Health Insurance Program and facilitating seamless healthcare access across our facilities, PhilHealth has helped bridge long-standing gaps in public health service for one of our nation’s most vulnerable populations.”

The PhilHealth-BJMP partnership marks a significant step toward providing equitable access to healthcare and reinforcing the government’s commitment to safeguarding the health and welfare of all Filipinos, including those in custodial facilities. Through this collaboration, both agencies aim to strengthen healthcare delivery in jail facilities and contribute to the realization of a more inclusive and responsive health system under Universal Health Care./PN