Government testing integrated health and social welfare system

Niña V. Guno

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Government testing integrated health and social welfare system
The project makes it easier for social welfare beneficiaries to seek help from selected government agencies

MANILA, Philippines – The government is pilot testing a program to link personal records across three social service and health service agencies, which could save time and money.

The Social Protection Support Initiatives (SPSI) – Convergence Project Convergence (CPC) is a cross-agency electronic referral system” which coordinates the electronic service programs of 3 agencies: Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), and PhilHealth.

The SPSI-CPC will link the records of beneficiaries of the government’s various health-related programs, which include Sustaining Interventions in Poverty Alleviation and Governance (SIPAG), Watching Over Mothers and Babies (WOMB), and Sigurado at Garantisadong Insurance Pangkalusugan (SAGIP).

Oriental Mindoro was selected as the pilot province for testing because it met the criteria of the DOH, DSWD, PhilHealth and the European Union. The program will be tested in 6 pilot sites: Pola, Bansud, Mansaly, Bulalacao, Bongabong, and Naujan.

Interoperability

This data management system interoperates with the other services so that patients can be referred to another program that could best cater to their needs. 

An example given was that a pregnant women under Pantawid Pamilya can be referred to WOMB for access to regional health units (RHUs). Similarly, WOMB patients can be registered in SAGIP for financial aid. 

“The principle of convergence is basically calling for synchronization and coordination of the interventions of the different government, national and local, and private sectors in one geographical area to ensure that the reforms in terms of poverty alleviation, among others, are achieved,” said DSWD secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman.

Oriental Mindoro governor Alfonso V. Umali, Jr. said implementing the project went smoothly as the province had experience implementing another convergence project, called the Strategic Intervention and Community-focused Action towards Development (SICAD).

Soliman added that without local government support, the technology and systems would not function

“Kaya mahalaga po talaga na magkaroon tayo ng memorandum of agreement signing para sa ganun, masigurado natin na tayong lahat ay nagkakaisa sa pagtingin ng kinakailangan nating pabilisin, gawing episyente, gawing responsive or nakatutugon sa mga pangangailan ng mga pinaglilingkurang mga komunidad,” said Soliman.

(A memorandum of agreement is important to ensure unity on what needs to be hastened, made efficient, and made responsive to answer the needs of the community.)

“Only by working together can we collectively ensure that the Aquino health agenda is implemented meaningfully and that it fulfills equality and cost containment goals,” added DOH secretary Enrique Ona.

Project components

SIPAG uses an electronic social case management system to improve the “data analysis capabilities for the social welfare indicators.”

The system can track the poorest families’ level of self-sufficiency. Interventions are then determined to improve the families’ overall well-being.

Meanwhile, WOMB addresses the country’s alarming maternal and infant mortality rate by assisting rural health units (RHU) in monitoring expectant mothers. 

Meanwhile, PhilHealth’s SAGIP system aims to extend universal health care to all Filipinos through “proactive registration.”

On June 20, government officials and representatives from 8 municipalities and one city formalized a partnership in Aloha Hotel, Manila.

Also present in the event were representatives from Baco, Gloria, Pinamalayan, Puerto Galera, Roxas, San Teodoro, Socorro, Victoria, and Calapan City. – Rappler.com

Niña V. Guno is a 5th year AB Communication Arts and BS Business Management student from De La Salle University. She is a member of Tulong sa Kapwa Kapatid, a non-profit group that mentors less fortunate children in Payatas, Quezon City. She is an intern at Rappler.

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