Mayoral candidate Alfredo “Albee” Benitez said on Tuesday, March 29, that he will duplicate the Negros Occidental Comprehensive Health Program (NOCHP) in Bacolod City if elected mayor.
The Bacolod City Comprehensive Health Program (BACHP) will be patterned after the NOCHP that addresses the health needs of indigent patients, he said.
“We have seen the success of the NOCHP. A program for health is one of the most crucial and needed programs in any local government unit,” Benitez said.
Benitez said he has discussed this with owners of private hospitals in Bacolod City and they will recognize the BACHP health card.
He pointed out “those private hospitals by law must provide 10 percent of their bed capacity for no balance billing for the poorest of the poor, for those who cannot afford hospitalization.”
“We will access that…through the BACHP we will have them comply with the law,” he said.
He also stressed the need for the Bacolod City and Negros Occidental governments to collaborate to better serve the health care needs of their constituents.
On the non-compliance of the minimum health care protocols against COVID-19 at political rallies, Benitez said this is happening all over the country.
Team Asenso Bacolod is reminding its supporters to wear masks and to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as protection at public rallies, he said.*