Bagong Henerasyon Party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera (PPAB)

House Deputy Minority Leader and Bagong Henerasyon (BH) Party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera commended the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) for increasing the benefits package for breast cancer patients from the current P100,000 to P1.4 million.

“This is not just a small step forward; it's a giant leap in our efforts to provide comprehensive support to breast cancer patients. PhilHealth deserves applause for recognizing the pressing need to enhance the 'Z-benefit' package,” Herrera said in a statement.

The “Z-benefit” package specifically caters to catastrophic illnesses and health conditions that require expensive treatments and prolonged hospitalization, such as breast cancer.

Included in the benefits are hospital room and board fees, in-hospital medications, laboratory examinations, operating room fees, and professional fees.

“Breast cancer is a formidable adversary, and we must employ every available resource to combat it effectively,” said Herrera.

“By expanding the 'Z-benefit' package, PhilHealth has taken a crucial stride in ensuring that our fellow Filipinos faced with breast cancer are equipped with the necessary resources to fight this battle head-on,” she added.

Last February, a 30 percent increase in all PhilHealth benefits also took effect.

Herrera noted that these benefits hikes are a testament to the state health insurer’s “dedication to improving healthcare provisions for all Filipinos”.

"While we celebrate this remarkable stride, it is crucial that we remain vigilant and continue working towards bolstering our healthcare system. Together, we can ensure that no Filipino is left behind in their fight against illness,” the lawmaker added.

"This momentous decision by PhilHealth is not just an increase in numbers; it is an investment in the lives of breast cancer patients and their loved ones,” she said.

In 2019, PhilHealth said three in every 100 Filipino women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.