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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PhilHealth must help Pinoys cope with cancer, costly ailments--solon 

PhilHealth must help Pinoys cope with cancer, costly ailments--solon 

Published Feb 19, 2024 12:25 am

At A Glance

  • AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee has reiterated the need for the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to step up its coverage for more costly ailments such as cancer treatment, heart bypass surgery, and the like. 

olga-kononenko-98__MsKaUsI-unsplash.jpg(Unsplash)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee has reiterated the need for the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to step up its coverage for more costly ailments such as cancer treatment, heart bypass surgery, and the like. 

Lee was the solon who filed House Resolution (HR) No. 1407, which urged the PhilHealth to update and increase its coverage by 30 percent. He noted that the case rate was no longer responsive to the hospitalization cost of beneficiaries, as this has not been adjusted for over a decade now. 

After much prodding, the rookie congressman got his wish last Feb. 14, when the sought 30 percent increase in PhilHealth benefit packages took effect. 

But Lee says the state health insurer must still provide full coverage on cancer treatment, heart bypass surgery, and other major hospital operations. 

He said PhilHealth must also ensure the effective implementation of the No Balance Billing. 

“In the case of cancer, hindi pwedeng installment ang gamutan dito. Kung ano ang kailangang gamutan sa cancer, dapat sagot lahat ng PhilHealth ‘yan. Sa coronary artery bypass, P550,000 ang limit sa coverage pero milyon-milyon ang gagastusin. Sa pag-iisip pa lang sa gastos, lalong magkakasakit ang pasyente,” Lee said. 

(Cancer can't be treated via installment. PhilHealth should cover cancer treatment, however it's done. For instance, coronary artery bypass surgery can cost millions, but the limit of coverage is P550,000. Merely thinking about the expenses can make one sick.) 

“Kung mayayaman nga, nababankrupt ‘pag nagkasakit, paano pa ang mahihirap? Gawin natin ang lahat para mabawasan ang pangamba ng bawat pamilya sa pagkakasakit,” he added. 

(Rich people can get bankrupt due to sickness, what more the poor? Let's do everything we can to lessen the worries of each family in connection with sickness.) 

At any rate, Lee thanked PhilHealth for delivering on the 30 percent coverage hike. 

“I would like to thank the leadership of PhilHealth, headed by President and CEO Emmanuel Ledesma Jr., for heeding our call as early as September 2023 during our budget briefing here in Congress to increase its benefit packages given the available budget of the agency,” Lee said.   

 

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