Latest news with #PhilippineHealthInsuranceCorporation
Filipino Times
6 days ago
- Health
- Filipino Times
PhilHealth to offer services ahead of OFW Serbisyo Caravan in Dubai
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) will open its doors days before the much-anticipated Bagong Bayani ng Mundo – OFW Serbisyo Caravan officially kicks off in Dubai. As part of the pre-caravan rollout from July 28 to 30, PhilHealth will set up at the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Dubai, offering vital services including membership registration, record updates, claims processing, and issuance of PhilHealth IDs and Member Data Records (MDRs). Pre-registration is required to access the services, but walk-in clients with flights the next day may also be accommodated, according to the MWO-Dubai. The main Serbisyo Caravan, organized by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), is scheduled for August 3, 2025, at Exhibition Hall 8 of the Dubai World Trade Center. Related story: OFWs in Dubai to benefit from one-stop Serbisyo Caravan in August; offers services from 10 gov't agencies 'Due to distance and time constraints, OFWs are faced with challenges in accessing government services. The Caravan serves as a one-stop shop designed to re introduce participating agencies' various programs and services, deliver information sessions and offer support channels for OFWs and their families,' the MWO-Dubai said. Here are the services you can avail of and the documents you need to prepare:
GMA Network
21-07-2025
- Health
- GMA Network
First awake craniotomy in Panay deemed 'landmark achievement'
The first awake craniotomy performed in Panay Island is deemed a milestone. The medical procedure was done on July 17, 2025 at the Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) in Iloilo City. A 43-year-old patient who was diagnosed with intracranial tumor went through a six-hour operation. The woman was conscious, or awake, while the tumor was removed successfully from the left temporal lobe of her brain. The feat was marked by medical team leader, Dr. Derek Ben Jabines, with Dr. James Mercado, Dr. Ceres Lucot-Laud, and Dr. Paul Christian Sobrevega, in coordination with medical staff members. It was not reportedly easy to undertake the process leading to the operation, as the medical team had to ensure that the patient is physically, emotionally, and psychologically ready for the procedure. As of this writing, the patient stayed at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) while on recovery stage, and was set for transfer to a private room on July 20, 2025. WVMC has mulled on adding Awake Craniotomy to the services at the hospital's Brain and Spine Center, though details on the cost of the surgery was not divulged, or if the procedure is within Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) coverage. 'Ang difference sa Awake at sa usual natin na ginagawa before is tulog doon ang pasyente. Ang Awake is same surgical techniques and principles kaya lang, na-incorporate natin para safe sya,' according to Dr. Derek Ben Jabines, neurosurgeon at WVMC. As for Dr. Ceres Lucot-Laud, neuroanesthesiologist, she pointed out how patient selection is key to the successful operation. 'The patient should be emotionally prepared. I have to meet the patient siguro three to four days before the surgery. I have to establish a good rapport. The folks and the patient should understand the risk of the said procedure and they all agreed naman,' Laud emphasized. Meanwhile, Dr. Paul Christian Sobrevega, neuropsychiatrist, said that the impact of the successful procedure makes the service more accessible to patients. 'I understand the impact that it has not only in Iloilo City but in Western Visayas. The patients need not go to other places to (avail) this kind of services,' Sobrevega said. 'The surgery was performed while the patient was awake to safely remove a tumor from the area controlling the speeds and the movement through real time brain mapping. This landmark achievement underscores WVMC's growing expertise in advance neurosurgery,' Dr. Joseph Dean Nicolo, chief of WVMC, underscored.
GMA Network
23-06-2025
- Health
- GMA Network
PhilHealth expands coverage for kidney disease, heart conditions, emergency outpatient care
In a move aimed at alleviating the financial burden on patients suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD) and other critical health conditions, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has significantly expanded its benefit packages for hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, kidney transplant, and even emergency outpatient care. According to Dr. Israel Francis Vargas, Senior Vice President of the Health Finance Policy Sector of PhilHealth, the changes were prompted by the alarming number of Filipinos developing end-stage renal disease. 'Napakataas na ng porsyento ng mga Pilipino na meron pong chronic kidney disease,' he said during a Bagong Pilipinas interview on Monday. (A high percentage of Filipinos now suffer from chronic kidney disease.) To respond to this public health crisis, PhilHealth has raised its annual coverage for hemodialysis from 90 to 156 sessions, now matching the standard of three dialysis sessions per week. The amount reimbursed per session also increased from ?2,600 to ?6,350. 'Ngayon po umaabot ng halos isang milyon ang benepisyo natin para sa hemodialysis,' Dr. Vargas noted. (Our hemodialysis benefit now reaches nearly ?1 million annually.) The benefit for peritoneal dialysis—an at-home alternative involving a catheter in the abdomen—was also expanded, now reaching ?500,000 annually for adults and ?1.2 million for children. 'Pwede itong gawin ng mismong pasyente kahit sa bahay, sa opisina, at anumang oras ng araw,' he explained. (Patients can do this themselves at home, at work, or at any time of day.) In just the first half of 2025, PhilHealth has already paid ?27 billion for over 2 million hemodialysis claims—almost equal to the ?28 billion it disbursed for all of 2024. For peritoneal dialysis, the agency paid ?121 million for 14,000 claims so far. Dr. Vargas also addressed concerns about delayed payments. 'Ngayon po, ang ating national average for payment ay around 23 days,' he said, adding that this is well ahead of the 60-day requirement and that the agency aims to reduce this further to just seven days. (Our national average for payment is now around 23 days.) The agency also expanded its Z-Benefit Package for kidney transplantation, raising coverage from ?600,000 to up to ?2.1 million for children and over ?1 million for adults. Notably, PhilHealth now covers transplants from deceased donors—previously limited to living donors. 'Kino-cover na rin po natin ang disease organ donors,' said Vargas. (We now also cover deceased organ donors.) Moreover, the post-kidney transplant care—which includes lifelong immunosuppressant drugs and regular lab monitoring—is also covered. For adults, this ranges from ?600,000 to ?660,000 per year; for children, it's up to ?1.7 million in the first year. Beyond kidney-related illnesses PhilHealth's expansion goes beyond kidney-related illnesses. As of February 14, it introduced a new outpatient emergency care benefit, covering patients who are treated in the ER but not admitted. This change fills a previous gap in the system. 'Kapag nadala ka sa ER at hindi ka na-admit, wala tayong benepisyo noon. Pero meron na po tayo niyan ngayon,' Vargas emphasized. (Previously, we had no benefit for ER patients who weren't admitted. But now, we do.) Moreover, patients suffering from acute myocardial infarction (heart attacks) can now receive up to ?130,000 for medication-based treatment and up to ?530,000 for surgical procedures like angioplasty. Cardiac rehabilitation (?66,000) and ambulance transfers (?22,000) are also included in the expanded package. Dr. Vargas emphasized the role of PhilHealth's bayanihan model in sustaining these benefits. He called on Filipinos to fulfill the 4Ms: magparehistro (register), mag-update (update information), magbayad (pay premiums), and mag-avail (use benefits). These, he said, ensure the sustainability and reach of PhilHealth's services. 'Ang ating mensahe, hindi lamang sa mga may chronic kidney disease, kundi sa lahat: kung hindi man natin nagagamit ang ating PhilHealth ngayon, tandaan natin, ito ay para sa panahon na kakailanganin natin ito.' (Our message is not just for those with chronic kidney disease, but for everyone: even if we don't use PhilHealth now, remember that it's for the time we will need it.) — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
03-06-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
Senators seek increase in PhilHealth's anti-rabies coverage
Two senators asked the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to increase its package for anti-rabies vaccination amid the rising rabies cases. In a hearing on Tuesday, Senator Bong Go said some patients might have hesitation about availing of anti-rabies shots because of the costs. 'Baka ang mga kababayan natin sa takot ayaw na magpa-injection dahil mahal ang babayaran. Lalo na pag talagang positibo na kailangan nila magpa-inject. Baka maaring taasan nyo ang inyong coverage para hindi matakot ang ating mga kababayan na magpa-injection at magpa-gamot dahil may PhilHealth na masasandalan nila,' said Go, chairperson of the Senate Committe on Health. (Perhaps our countrymen are scared of the injection because the fees are expensive. There really is a need for vaccination, especially when they test positive. Perhaps there can be an increase in coverage so that our countrymen would no longer be scared of vaccination and treatment because they can depend on PhilHealth.) 'Ang bilis, ang bilis niyan. Hindi yan pwedeng sandali…. Dapat punta kaagad sa hospital, punta kaagad sa health center, check-up kaagad. At kung kailangan magpa-injection, injection kaagad. Dapat tumugon kaagad ang gobyerno dahil buhay po rito ang nakataya dito,' he added. (It's so fast. They can't delay… You would have to immediately head to a hospital or to a health center for a check-up. If you need an injection, you need to be vaccinated right away. The government has to respond right away because there are lives at stake.) In an advisory in March 2025, PhilHealth noted that its current Animal Bite Package covers P5,850 for vaccinations. Some hospitals offer free vaccinations for humans, while local government offices also offer free vaccinations for pets. Senator Raffy Tulfo said that local government units must allot a budget for anti-rabies vaccinations for both animals and humans. Two rabies deaths occurred within a month —a man who died nine months after the bite and a woman who was bitten two months ago. The two did not avail themselves of anti-rabies shots. In 2024, the DOH reported a total of 426 rabies-related deaths and emphasized the need for pet vaccinations and increased rabies awareness. Meanwhile, Go also asked the Department of Budget and Management to settle the Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) payouts of health workers. 'Unahin niyo bayaran ang mga appeals ng health emergency allowances. Yung mga health workers natin na nagsakripisyo at nakipagpatayan sa atin ng panahon ng pandemya. Kung totoo naman na pinaghirapan nila at pinagtrabahuan nila, sana gawan nyo po ito ng paraan,' he said. (Prioritize paying the appeals of health emergency allowances. Our health workers have sacrificed and faced the frontlines for us during the pandemic. If it is true that they have worked for this, I hope something could be done.) 'Services rendered po yan, pinagpawisan po yan, pinaghirapan po yan ng ating mga health workers. Sila po ang hero ng pandemya. Di natin mararating ito kung hindi dahil sa kanila. Ibigay po what is due,' he continued. (These are rendered services, toiled with sweat and hard work by our health workers. They are the heroes of the pandemic. We will not be able to get here without them. Give them what is due.)—LDF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
29-05-2025
- Health
- GMA Network
PhilHealth CEO Mercado submits courtesy resignation
Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) acting president and CEO Dr. Edwin Mercado has submitted his courtesy resignation amid the ongoing post-midterm polls executive overhaul of the Marcos administration. 'Bilang pagsunod sa direktiba ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ay nagsumite na ng kaniyang courtesy resignation ang aming acting president and CEO Dr. Edwin M. Mercado,' PhilHealth said in a statement. (In accordance with the directive of President Ferdinand Jr., our acting president and CEO Dr. Edwin Mercado submitted his courtesy resignation.) His resignation came after the Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG) directed state-run firms' non-ex-officio chairpersons, chief executive officers (CEOs), and all appointive directors/trustees/members of their respective GOCCs' governing boards to immediately submit their courtesy resignations to the President through the Office of the Executive Secretary. Mercado, an orthopedic surgeon, was named as the new chief of PhilHealth in February in the midst of the controversial transfer of P60 billion funds of the state insurer to the national treasury, which was criticized by health advocates. Last week, Marcos sought the courtesy resignations of Cabinet secretaries to "recalibrate" his administration after the 2025 national and local elections. The President had lamented that results of the May 2025 midterm polls showed that the people are "tired of politics and they are disappointed with the government." —AOL, GMA Integrated News
