Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Tuesday welcomed the latest expansion of the state-owned Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s (PhilHealth) benefit packages, describing it as a significant step forward in easing the daily struggles of Filipino families and making quality health care more accessible to those who need it most.
‘‘This is a big win for ordinary Filipinos,’’ Romualdez said. ‘‘This is the result of the cooperation of Congress, PhilHealth, and the entire government.’’
The Speaker has consistently pushed for reforms in the national health insurance system to address the actual needs of patients and their families.
He said the new PhilHealth benefits directly respond to long-standing concerns raised by the House of Representatives during hearings, consultations, and dialogues with stakeholders.
One of the most urgent improvements is expanded dialysis support. PhilHealth has increased the coverage of hemodialysis sessions from 90 to 156 per year enough to sustain the recommended three treatments per week. The reimbursement per session has also been raised from P2,600 to P6,350, bringing total annual support for dialysis patients to nearly‚ P1 million.
Peritoneal dialysis benefits have likewise been expanded to P00,000 annually for adults and P1.2 million for children. Pediatric kidney transplants are now covered up to P2.1 million, while adult transplants will receive more than P1 million in total coverage, including post-transplant care, lab tests, and essential medicines.
‘‘These are life-changing numbers,’’ Romualdez said. ‘‘But more importantly, these are lifelines for families who have been praying for relief.’’
The Speaker also praised PhilHealth’s rollout of facility-based outpatient emergency care a reform he championed to ensure that emergency room visits are covered even if the patient is not admitted. This addresses the common issue where patients are forced to leave emergency rooms without treatment due to unaffordable fees.
In addition, PhilHealth has expanded support for heart-related conditions, another advocacy area raised by the House. Benefits now include P130,000 for non-surgical treatment of heart attacks, up to P530,000 for procedures such as angioplasty, and coverage for cardiac rehabilitation and ambulance services.
Romualdez emphasized that these reforms are the result of months of close coordination among the House of Representatives, PhilHealth, and the Department of Health. He said this progress shows what can happen when the government listens and responds to the people’s real needs.
‘‘Our goal is simple: no Filipino should be denied health care because of poverty. And today, we move one step closer to that goal.’’
He concluded by thanking President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the leadership of PhilHealth, and the health sector for working together to fulfill the promise of universal health care.
