Four heart doctors have called on the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. to include the treatment of critical limb ischemia (CLI) for in- and out-patients in its Ischemic Heart Disease-Acute Myocardial Infarction STEMI Package.
At the monthly Usapang Puso sa Puso webinar hosted by the Philippine Heart Association, Dr. Ramon Ribu, a thoracic cardiovascular surgeon and wound expert at the Philippine Heart Center, along with Dr. Iris Garcia, PHA director III and advocacy chairperson, and cardiovascular surgeons and wound care experts Dr. Renato Villanueva and Dr. Florimond Garcia, said CLI’s PhilHealth coverage could help lessen the burden of costs for vascular procedures and even maintenance drugs.
While the CLI treatment is available in the Philippines, its high cost is a major obstacle, Ribu said.
The PHA lamented that while the disease is as dangerous as cancer, its management is often underfunded and overlooked compared to more well-known illnesses.
The heart surgeons advised patients who could not undergo invasive procedures that lifestyle changes, wound care, and timely consultations remain vital to prolong life and prevent limb loss.
The Philippine Association of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons Inc., with 198 members nationwide, is pushing for the integration and inclusion of the CLI treatment in the PhilHealth package of benefits, according to Villanueva.
The PHA warned the public of the health risks of CLI linked to heart attack and stroke.
A patient with symptomatic peripheral artery disease (PAD) has a five-year mortality rate of 15 to 30 percent, Ribu said.
“Once the disease progresses to CLI, the mortality rate rises to 50 to 60 percent within the same period, comparable to advanced lung, liver, or pancreatic cancer,” he said.
PAD is a condition that occurs when arteries in the legs become narrowed or blocked, reducing blood flow.
“Treat your limb like your heart,” Ribu said.
“When someone asks, what do you know is the dangerous disease, you’re answer is cancer. But did you know that PAD is as dangerous as cancer, and that CLI is even more dangerous than most cancers,” he added.
