PHILIPPINE American Life and General Insurance Co. Foundation (Philam Foundation), the corporate social responsibility arm of the country’s third-largest insurer Philam Life, and Philippine medical associations, are building a database of illnesses.
“We’ll be coming up with a registry of illnesses to create data-driven policies and initiatives,” the foundation’s president Max Ventura said. “We’ll still be discussing with the medical associations for further details as the board just signed it on July 26 at our meeting.”
Philam Foundation is discussing with medical professionals the components and mechanisms for what it calls the “Alliance for Philippine Health and Advocacy”, or Alpha initiative. Ventura told the BusinessMirror on Monday at its 20th anniversary Alpha will complement the triad campaign of Philam Life.
In 2012 the foundation began to address the campaign’s mental well-being aspect through building schools under “Philam Paaralan” and the financial well-being segment through “Philam Savings and Value Education Sessions” or Philam Saves.
For physical well-being, Ventura said Philam Life plans to launch the initiative in February or on the convention of the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP). Last year the PCP gathered for its annual convention in May.
Ventura said the foundation is also drawing information from the Philippine College of Surgeons and the Cancer Registry of the Philippines.
He added the advocacy is also an integral part of Philam Vitality, which is a health and wellness program. Launched two years ago, the program uses a mobile application to record clients’ performances in health activities, such as exercise.
All aim to protect Filipinos from common problems that are caused by lack of public funds and facilities and holistic preparation for their various goals, Ventura said.
According to the UPecon Foundation Inc. and National Health Institute of the University of the Philippines, 6 out 10 Filipinos die without consulting with a doctor, and 50 percent of the population pays hospital bills out of pocket. The saving rate of Filipinos appears lower as one out of four Filipinos, or 25 percent, set money aside for the future.
Ventura added the Philam schools will serve as primary channels of the campaign, where all the components of well-being can be taught.