Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Tuesday urged the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to include a mental health wellness package as part of its services to address a much wider range of psychological disorders.
Go, likewise, called on the Department of Health (DOH) to make its existing Medicine Access Program for Mental Health more accessible to as many Filipinos in need of mental health medicines.
“I urge PhilHealth to develop as soon as possible a more comprehensive mental health package that will also include consultation and other outpatient services. For as long as it is viable on the part of PhilHealth, coverage should include a much wider range of mental and behavioral conditions,” Go said in a statement.
“I also appeal to DOH to make its existing Medicine Access Program for Mental Health more accessible to as many Filipinos in need of mental health medicines. Although the National Center for Mental Health in Mandaluyong City continues to cater to mental health patients, we have to make this type of government service available to more people nationwide, especially in rural and far-flung areas,” said the chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography.
Go said it is imperative for the state to make it easier for the public to access the government’s mental health care services: “Gobyerno na dapat ang lumapit sa kanila (The government should approach them).”
Likewise, the lawmaker appealed to all concerned agencies to boost their COVID-19 Reintegration strategy to assist people recovering from moderate and severe COVID-19 and address their post-COVID-19 conditions.
“This is to ensure that they regain their full health and become productive members of our society again,” he said.
“As I have said many times before, we have to ensure that no Filipino is left behind on our journey towards full post-pandemic and economic recovery,” the senator stressed.
The Philippine Mental Health Association (PMHA), in 2021, noted that the COVID-19 pandemic took a toll on the mental health of most Filipinos including teachers, students and their parents, as it noted of a 25.7 percent surge in the country's suicide incidence in 2020.