CLIMBS is now embarking into another area of endeavor, which is both a necessity and altruistic.

During CLIMBS 39th General Assembly last April 29, 2011, in Cagayan de Oro City, the assembly passed a resolution, tasking the management of CLIMBS to set up a Health Maintenance Organization(HMO).

Apparently, this HMO is expected to draw up plans and programs that will address one of the most basic need of man-health services.

In fact, we could say that the mandate is long overdue, since the need to have a more affordable and readily available health services, especially to the grassroots, has always been imparative.

It is envisioned that with cooperatives providing medical assistance and services, coop members and the public in the general, will have an easy access to quality, but affordable medical and health services.

Why not? After all, cooperatives are motivated not by profits, but service.

Knowing how CLIMBS does its assignment, we are optimistic that a cooperative-run HMO will be established this year. Of course, for it to become possible, the participation and support from members of CLIMBS are needed.

And quite frankly, supporting such move should never be a issue. Health of coop members must be a major concern of all cooperatives, especially that prices of medicines and medical treatment have been unreachable to many of our people, thus, "bawal and magkasakit."

We believe that with coopeartives, through CLIMBS, ensuring their members and the public in general, an accessible and pro-poor but quality health services is another demonstration of the relevance of the cooperative movement in the country.

In fact, it is anticipated, that once the program is realized, more and more people would appreciate the necessity to become coop members.


Source: The CLIMBS Journal - Editorial
Issue: Vol.1 No.16 / January-June 2011
Published: September 2011