All 120 inmates at a district jail in Oriental Mindoro have been enrolled in the country’s national health insurance program, a laudable achievement in prisoner healthcare reform, jail officials announced Monday.

The mass registration at Naujan District Jail comes six months after the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) implemented a nationwide policy to strengthen healthcare services for persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).

“This milestone is crucial for promoting the health and well-being of inmates,” said Jail Officer Allen Glen Delica, who serves as the community relations officer at Naujan BJMP. “The program will standardize health responses and strengthen the referral system for PDLs.”

The program is expected to address health problems in detention facilities, including respiratory infections, skin diseases, and mental health issues. It could reform prisoner healthcare in BJMP facilities, where access to medical services has historically been limited.

Overcrowding in Philippine jails has been a longstanding issue, with many facilities operating at several times their intended capacity.

Under the national policy enacted in July 2024, inmates are guaranteed round-the-clock healthcare services and access to PhilHealth benefits packages.

The Naujan District Jail Philhealth registration program could serve as a model for other detention facilities across the country, BJMP Mimaropa has noted.