The government has given the best gift for Women's Month! The Department of Health (DOH) and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) confirmed the inclusion of laboratory procedures like mammograms and ultrasound in its Konsulta Packages. The move also falls under PhilHealth's breast cancer prevention and detention package.
Health Department Chief Ted Herbosa explained the benefits of having free breast cancer tests under the PhilHealth system. "It will ensure sustainable financing of preventive health services that can catch cancer and other conditions early. So that we can unload higher-level hospitals within the healthcare provider network," Dr. Ted said in a statement on March 12, 2024.
READ ALSO: All The Medical Benefits You Could Lose If PhilHealth Runs Out Of Funds
PhilHealth's swift action towards call for improvement in breast cancer treatment benefits
In February 2024, PhilHealth improved its breast cancer treatment packages, increasing its benefit coverage from P100,000 to P1.4 million.
This comes after Congressman Erwin Tulfo called on PhilHealth to provide more breast cancer-related tests for its female members, noting that the disease is one of the top causes of death among Filipinos.
In a separate statement on March 12, 2024, House Speaker Martin Romualdez spoke on PhilHealth's "swift action" towards the lawmakers and the health department's insight on its breast cancer package.
"Early detection is key in addressing various health concerns, and by removing financial barriers to these essential services, PhilHealth is helping to save lives and promote a healthier future for our women," Cong. Martin noted.
READ MORE:
- 3 Less Common Breast Cancer Symptoms To Be Aware Of
- Here Are The Products You Can Buy In Support Of Breast Cancer Awareness Month
- How To Check Your Breasts For Breast Cancer
The politician highlighted in his statement that female PhilHealth members can avail of the services starting in July 2024, as PhilHealth President and CEO Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. assured.
On the other hand, ABS-CBN News reported that the health department targets to roll out free breast cancer tests under the health insurer company in June 2024 or earlier.
