SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Sunday welcomed the decision of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to significantly increase the benefit package for breast cancer patients, while reiterating his call to further expand other benefit packages and services to include early detection of cancer.
The leader of the 300-plus-strong House of Representatives praised PhilHealth’s announcement of a 1,400-percent increase in the “Z benefit package” for breast cancer patients, elevating it from P100,000 to a substantial P1.4 million, describing it as a crucial step towards enhancing healthcare services in the country.
“We applaud PhilHealth for its substantial increase in support for breast cancer patients, marking a significant stride towards advancing healthcare,” Speaker Romualdez said.
“Moreover, expanding other benefits and services, particularly in early cancer detection for timely interventions, is essential to ultimately enhance accessibility to cancer care and for addressing other diseases,” he added.
Speaker Romualdez acknowledged the importance of addressing the needs of breast cancer patients and commended PhilHealth for taking proactive measures to enhance the benefit package.
“The decision of PhilHealth to increase the benefit package for breast cancer patients is a commendable move as it will undoubtedly alleviate the financial burden faced by patients and their families during their battle against this life-threatening disease,” Speaker Romualdez said.
The House chief also emphasized the significance of early detection in improving cancer survival rates and urged PhilHealth to further expand its benefit package and services to include comprehensive cancer screening programs.
“While increasing the benefit package for breast cancer patients is a commendable step, we must not overlook the importance of early detection in saving lives. I encourage PhilHealth to consider expanding the package to cover the cost of cancer screenings, enabling early detection and intervention,” he stressed.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the Philippines, with a rising incidence rate in recent years.
Speaker Romualdez highlighted the need for comprehensive support, including financial assistance and quality healthcare services, to effectively combat the disease.
“Breast cancer affects not only the physical health but also the emotional and financial well-being of patients. We must ensure that our healthcare system is equipped to provide comprehensive support to those affected,” he pointed out.
In addition to boosting the benefit package for breast cancer patients, PhilHealth also revealed a 30-percent increase in all benefit packages for its members.
PhilHealth’s decision aligns with Speaker Romualdez’s vision of accessible and affordable healthcare for all. His advocacy for expanded benefit packages and services underscores his dedication to improving healthcare services in the country.
Last month, Speaker Romualdez directed the House Committee on Health to conduct a thorough review of the PhilHealth Charter, aiming to expand patients’ benefits, particularly in early cancer detection.
This directive seeks to enhance healthcare coverage comprehensively for Filipino patients, emphasizing the necessity for more inclusive services.
The Speaker’s directive targets increasing benefits to cover at least 50 percent of costs in private hospital wards and providing free examinations for early detection of diseases like cancer.
Preventive measures include critical diagnostic exams such as x-rays for lung cancer, mammography for breast cancer, and the HPV vaccine to prevent cervical cancer.
The Speaker emphasized the need for PhilHealth to function similarly to a health maintenance organization or HMO, redirecting resources towards safeguarding public health rather than investing in commercial banks and bonds.
“With substantial annual allocations from Congress and regular contributions from private employees, there is no excuse for PhilHealth to scrimp on coverage. The effectiveness of the Universal Health Care system depends on our ability to provide for our citizens, ensuring they receive the medical attention and preventive care they deserve,” Speaker Romualdez said.
During the ensuing hearing of the House Committee on Health, PhilHealth officials, headed by President and CEO Emmanuel Ledesma Jr., pledged to adhere to the Speaker’s directive to improve their services and the benefits provided to members.
In addition to augmenting the benefits for cancer patients, Ledesma noted that PhilHealth also improved other patient benefit packages. For instance, High Risk Pneumonia saw an increase from P32,000 to P90,100, marking a 182% rise. Acute Stroke Ischemia rose from P28,000 to P76,000, reflecting a 171% increase, while Acute Stroke Hemorrhagic increased from P30,000 to P80,000, a jump of 111%.
Ledesma noted that the Z Benefit Package for colon and rectal cancers has been recently enhanced, enabling patients with metachronous colorectal tumors to access the package for both colon and rectal cancer treatments.
He said that PhilHealth has revised its policy on select orthopedic implants, allowing beneficiaries to utilize a maximum of two Z benefit packages, regardless of laterality, for procedures performed on different dates or on the same day within the same confinement period.
The package rate for select orthopedic implants has been increased to address rising costs and reduce surgery delays, he added.
