MANILA – Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Ted Herbosa confirmed that he has instructed the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to include ultrasound and mammogram in their Konsulta benefit package.
In a statement this Tuesday, Herbosa said he gave a directive to PhilHealth’s benefits committee (Bencom) to further expand primary care benefits under the current nationwide PhilHealth Konsulta benefit package.
This is also in accordance with the order of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez’s request.
It can be remembered that Romualdez first voiced the call of PhilHealth members to pay half of their hospital bill even if they are in private or pay ward.
The Speaker and other legislators such as the House Deputy Majority Leader for Communications and Rep. Erwin Tulfo of the ACT-CIS Partylist to be included in the PhilHealth coverage of primary care screening services such as ultrasound and mammography.
Herbosa agreed and said, “The DOH agrees with Speaker Romualdez. Following orders of President Marcos, I have directed the PhilHealth Benefits Committee, chaired by Asec. Domingo, to work on adding ultrasound and mammogram services in the current nationwide Konsulta benefit package, for immediate implementation nationwide.”
“This 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 health care provider network,” he said.
It is known that yesterday afternoon, March 12, the PhilHealth Bencom had a meeting regarding the issue.
This will be followed by a regular meeting of the PhilHealth Board of Directors today, Wednesday, March 13.
Herbosa, who is also a Trauma Surgeon and Emergency Medicine Specialist, is also the chairman of the PhilHealth Board of Directors.
He is represented in Bencom by OIC Assistant Secretary of Health Dr. Albert Edralin Domingo.
