Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) announced on Monday new benefit packages covering various illnesses as part of its commitment in the implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law.
PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel Ledesma, Jr. said the benefit includes treatment plans for the following ailments:
- Maple Syrup Urine Disease
- Methylmalonic Acidemia/Propionic Acidemia
- Galactosemia
- Phenylketonuria
- Gaucher Disease
- Pompe Disease
- Fabry Disease
- Hunter and Morquio Syndromes
- Osteogenesis Imperfecta
“The Universal Health Care Act has been a gamechanger for the Philippines and PhilHealth. As one of the primary agencies tasked with implementing this law, PhilHealth has been at the forefront of this endeavor,” Ledesma said in his speech.
Ledesma also announced that benefit package for the Acute Myocardial Infarction has been approved by the PhilHealth Board. This package includes aid for high treatment cost for patients with Ischemic Heart Disease and Myocardial Infarction.
The PhilHealth chief also announced the expansion of Z benefit package for Kidney Transplant amounting to P2 million from the previous P600,000 benefit coverage.
Ledesma assured that PhilHealth has enough funds to cover the packages and noted that the public may expect more from the agency soon. He, however, explained that these developments will take time since it will have to undergo other processes.
“We are working very, very hard, but these things take time. Of course, it needs financial study, there’s the actuary, research work. It is not that simple,” he explained, adding it is incumbent upon PhilHealth to exercise prudence in the enforcement of the UHC Law and do it right.
