PhilHealth eyes free breast cancer screening by June 2024

PhilHealth is targeting to offer by June this year free mammography and ultrasound screening services that will help detect breast cancer and other conditions, the Department of Health (DOH) said Thursday.

The DOH said PhilHealth on Wednesday responded to the call of Health Secretary Ted Herbosa, who chairs the state insurer's board of directors, to expand the primary care benefits under its Konsulta package and include ultrasound and mammogram services. 

“President Marcos and Speaker Romualdez want better health benefits for our people. Their marching orders are my instructions to PhilHealth. It is the pleasure of the Board to now bring up primary care benefits with mammogram and ultrasound services not just in sandbox sites, but nationwide,” Herbosa said in a statement. 

PhilHealth also approved an increase in the capitation rate of its Konsulta package to P1,700 per patient per year. Private Konsulta package providers (KPPs) will also be allowed to collect a co-payment of up to P900, while patients in public KPPs will not be charged. 

The DOH said that PhilHealth aims to implement these increased payments by June 2024 or earlier, depending on the completion of operational details such as IT system enhancements.

Speaker Martin Romualdez previously ordered a congressional review of PhilHealth’s charter to expand the coverage of benefits for its members.

Romualdez said that the state health insurer should at least cover 50% of the cost of treatment in private hospitals, as well as provide free medical examinations for the detection of deadly diseases such as cancer. —Giselle Ombay/KBK, GMA Integrated News