Speaker cites bigger cancer benefit
AS THE FOURTEENFOLD increase in Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s (PhilHealth) breast cancer benefits package takes effect this month, Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez stressed the need to expand its coverage for earlier detection of the disease.
In a statement on Sunday, Mr. Romualdez welcomed the increase in PhilHealth’s “Z benefit” for breast cancer patients from P100,000 to P1.4 million.
“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,” he said.
The PhilHealth increase was approved in February and takes effect this month as part of the National Women’s Month celebration.
It is important, the Speaker said, for the benefit “to cover the cost of cancer screenings, enabling early detection and intervention” of the disease. At present, this benefit is only offered at 18 hospitals in the country. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio