Seven management staff of Surigao Economic Development and Microfinancing Foundation, Inc. (SEDMFI) led by their Executive Director, Ms. Imelda Wines, conducted Learning Visit at Mahintana Foundation, Inc. and South Cotabato Provincial Hospital (SCPH) to benchmark on implementation of HEALTH Plus. The activity held on October 24-25, 2019 started with the presentation of the implementation of Social Franchising System in the Philippines including history, objective, social franchising, institutional arrangement and different business models of HEALTH Plus by Ms. Margie S. Managuit, Project Manager. It was followed by presentation of the 12-year experience of the foundation on HEALTH Plus including history & background, initial investment, project areas, 12-year performance and milestones, success factors, gaps and challenges. The participants also shared the challenges with their public hospitals which are lack of budget support to the provincial hospital, clients are navigated to Caraga Regional Hospital due to lack of manpower, medical supplies and equipment at the public hospitals. These concerns may be the hindering factors for them to successfully implement the HEALTH Plus. Ms. Managuit suggested to lobby and to provide technical assistance to the local government for the upgrading of the public health facilities considering the implementation of the newly-approved Universal Health Care Law.
On the second day, the participants visited SCPH to learn on the billing and collection process with Dr. Rodit Delfino, Admin Officer, Atty. Marnito Cosep, OIC, Provincial Legal Office and Ms. Cynthia Barrientos, CPA, Provincial Accountant, facilitated by Ms. Managuit. Dr. Delfino testified on the active partnership between Provincial Government and Mahintana which is an important facilitating factor on the successful and sustained implementation of the project. Ms. Barrientos also suggested for SEDMFI to bring with them the provincial department heads on their next learning visit. At the end of the 2-day activity, SEDMFI partners were very happy of their learning and were encouraged to implement HEALTH Plus in their region also to increase access of more indigent patients to quality and affordable medicines and supplies. Mahintana also committed to assist SEDMFI in the establishment of their chosen HEALTH Plus model/s.
