Abstract:
The primary objective of this study is to know what the Makati Health Program is all about and to
determine how it provides health care services to its senior citizens while identifying the role of the city
government in improving the health status of its residents using the evaluation criteria for effectiveness
presented in the Analytic Framework. Makati has been committed in giving efficient and high quality
health services for the indigent residents through the Makati Health Program, popularly known as the “Yellow Card”. The general aim of the MHP is to provide medical services and encourage health awareness through subsidized hospitalization (Asian Development Bank, 2004). The program stands out
today and serves as a best evidence of the government to faithfully honor their commitment to serve the
people. It was also invited by the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-HABITAT) to be
featured in an exhibit during the First Universal Forum on Cultures in Barcelona, Spain from May to
September 2004. The methodologies used were qualitative and data gathered from secondary sources.
The results show that Yellow Card is very useful in accessing health care especially for those given with
full discount. Health in Makati is very well - attended but still the government finds other ways on how to
improve their program. It holds monthly meetings and annual assessment of the performance of the
program in the past year. Seminars are also conducted regarding different health issues (family planning,
teenage pregnancy, etc.). Medical mission also serve as a tool to further reach those people who are lazy
to personally visit the doctor due to some personal reasons. What the government can do to further
improve its health program is to continuously asses the strengths of the program and maintains it, and
identifies its weaknesses to avoid it in the future. Some factors like low salary of medical practitioners
and the lack of space are few of the problems the program encounters. What the government can do to
further improve its health program is to continuously asses the strengths of the program and maintains it,
and identifies its weaknesses to avoid it in the future.
