NEARLY 2,000 poor residents from four districts of Manila were given free Philhealth cards by Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim yesterday.

The mayor was assisted by Jay dela Fuente, chief of the department of social welfare-Manila, who said that the recipients were chosen from districts 2, 3, 5 and 6.

Before distributing the free cards, Lim told the recipients that the monthly premium for the cards will be shouldered by the government.

“Kaya wala na kayong dapat na alalahanin. Gagamitin na lang ninyo ang mga card na ’yan na pupuwede kayong makakuha ng 30 percent na diskwento maging sa pampubliko o pribadong hospital man,” the mayor said.  The card, Mayor Lim said, also covers their immediate family members and for those who want to avail of services from private and public hospitals apart from those being run by the city government.

Lim stressed though that the city continues to operate six public hospitals offering free medical treatment and medicines for indigent residents, one serving each district.

Dela Fuente said the distribution of free Philhealth cards is a regular thing for Mayor Lim under his program “Tulong Pangkalusugan,” depending on the processing of applications and the subsequent release. 

Dela Fuente further explained that the discount offered by the cards include medicines, laboratory, room and medical procedures.

The mayor, he said, gives away a total of 26,666 such cards yearly and hopes to cover as many residents as possible.

The recipients of the free health cards, Dela Fuente explained, are chosen from among the poorest, as assessed by the barangay workers.