House Speaker Martin Romualdez (Speaker's Office)

Speaker Martin Romualdez has praised the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) for moving to significantly increase the benefit package for breast cancer patients, the care of whom is one of his advocacies. 

“We applaud PhilHealth for its substantial increase in support for breast cancer patients, marking a significant stride towards advancing healthcare,” Romualdez said in a statement Sunday, March 3. 

“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. 

Earlier, the state health insurer announced a whopping 1,400-percent increase in the "Z benefit package” for breast cancer patients. This bumped up the package from P100,000 to a substantial P1.4 million. 

Romualdez described the decision as a crucial step toward enhancing healthcare services in the country. 

“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,” Romualdez, Leyte's 1st district congressman, said. 

He says that while increasing the benefit package for breast cancer patients is a commendable step, the importance of early detection in saving lives must not be overlooked. 

"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. 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. 

Last month, the Speaker 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.