PALIKIR, Pohnpei, August 26, 2024 — T.H. Vice President Aren B. Palik welcomed representatives from St. Luke’s Medical Center (SLMC), Senior Vice President Ms. Veggie Flores and her team during a courtesy call aimed at discussing the longstanding partnership between SLMC and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) through MiCare. The meeting highlighted ongoing efforts to enhance healthcare services for FSM citizens and explored new opportunities for collaboration.
MiCare has established agreements with several leading healthcare providers in the Philippines as part of its mission to improve access to quality healthcare for its members. In early 2024, MiCare signed new Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with medical providers, including Cardinal Santos Medical Center, St. Luke’s Quezon City, St. Luke’s Global City, and Medical City Hospitals, all of which are ranked among the top ten hospitals in the Philippines. These partnerships are designed to offer FSM citizens access to high-quality medical care at reasonable costs.
Vice President Palik emphasized the importance of the renewed agreement between MiCare and SLMC, which has been in place since 2000. In February 2024, MiCare renewed its contracts with both SLMC Quezon City and SLMC Global City, ensuring that FSM patients continue to receive comprehensive healthcare services. The agreement includes several benefits for MiCare members, such as complimentary outpatient accommodation at the Bethany facility near SLMC Quezon City, transportation arrangements for patients from the airport to the hospital and Bethany, and a 10% discount on medical claims processed through SLMC.
During the meeting, Vice President Palik and SLMC representatives discussed key aspects of the partnership, including the effectiveness of the referral process for FSM patients, the quality of medical care provided, and the most common health issues that lead to referrals.
Looking ahead, the discussion explored potential expansions in the partnership, including the integration of telehealth and e-health services to support FSM doctors and patients before referrals are made. The Vice President expressed interest in exploring how technology can contribute to solutions to help address challenges related to connectivity and infrastructure in the FSM, which could enhance the overall effectiveness of medical care.
Another key topic was the FSM’s plans to establish a diagnostic center to improve local healthcare capacity. Vice President Palik inquired whether such an initiative would enhance the collaboration between FSM healthcare providers and SLMC by allowing for more accurate diagnoses prior to overseas referrals.
The possibility of organizing a medical mission to the FSM was also discussed. Vice President Palik highlighted the potential benefits of a collaborative mission between MiCare, SLMC, and the FSM Department of Health, which could provide direct healthcare services to citizens and further strengthen ties between the two institutions.
As FSM continues to prioritize healthcare accessibility for its citizens, partnerships like those with St. Luke’s Medical Center play a crucial role in ensuring that patients receive quality care both at home and abroad.
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