PhilHealth 6 wins Red Orchid Hall of Fame Award

• Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=891116
• Sunday, June 5, 2016

(PNA), FFC/PGL/CBF

ILOILO CITY (PNA) -- The regional office of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) was recognized as Red Orchid Hall of Fame Awardee for maintaining a smoke-free environment and winning the award for three consecutive years.

The Red Orchid Award is an annual search for a 100 percent smoke-free environment. It is open to local government units, government agencies, health facilities and other public places to implement the 100 percent tobacco-free policy as mandated by the Administrative Order number 10 of the Department of Health (DOH).

Dennis Mas, regional vice-president of PhilHealth at the National Capital Region (NCR) joined other officials of the regional office in receiving the award in a ceremony here on Tuesday.

It was during his term as regional vice-president for Western Visayas that PhilHealth decided to join the Regional Tobacco Framework Network in Region 6. He said that it is normal to see resistance at first.

However, smoking in government offices has been prohibited by virtue of Civil Service memorandum and DOH administrative order. Sanctions can be imposed and the violator may even be dismissed, he added.

Meanwhile, he said that smokers who are planning to quit may seek the assistance of the PhilHealth, which included in its primary care benefit the conduct of smoking cessation counseling.

During the counseling, participants will be guided of the process on how to do it. There will also be discussions on the benefits of quitting and the ill-effects of smoking.

Mas said that this kind of intervention, in a way, would lead to reduction of their reimbursements for upper respiratory diseases.

Aside from the regional office, its offices in Kalibo, Aklan; San Jose Antique; Roxas City, Capiz; Passi City and Sara in Iloilo; Bacolod City; Kabankalan City and Sagay City in Negros Occidental were also Red Orchid Awardees.