Philippine state health insurer to offer emergency care package

PhilHealth's healthcare benefits now cover 60% of the most serious diseases.

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) is evaluating the inclusion of emergency care services in its benefit packages for members starting next year. 

PhilHealth's senior vice president for the Health Finance Policy Sector, Israel Francis Pargas, acknowledged that while existing benefits cover primary care and confinement, there is a gap in urgent and emergency care. 

Speaking at a media forum, Pargas emphasized that the Universal Health Care Law mandates PhilHealth to provide such services. 

He stated that the agency is actively studying how to implement the emergency care package, with plans to finalize the policy this year and offer the new package by 2025.

PhilHealth President and chief executive officer Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. added that the corporation is also preparing to expand coverage for conditions such as lung, liver, ovary, and prostate cancers, especially for patients undergoing chemotherapy. 

Ledesma highlighted that PhilHealth's expanded healthcare benefits now cover 60% of the most burdensome diseases in the country, such as pneumonia, severe dengue, stroke, chronic kidney disease, and various cancers.

Pargas noted that some members are already benefiting from increased coverage for conditions such as pneumonia, asthma, stroke, neonatal sepsis, and hemodialysis.