MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) will shoulder the hospital expenses of all coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients in the country, PhilHealth chief Ricardo Morales said Thursday as the government grapples to contain the spread of the disease.
“Babayaran ng PhilHealth and lahat ng medical expenses ng mga taong magkakaroon ng COVID-19, especially ‘yung ating mga public health workers. Gusto nating bigyan sila ng confidence saka peace of mind para silay makapagfocus sa trabaho,” Morales said in a “public” briefing aired over state-run PTV.
“Wala silang aalalahanin kung sila po ay magkakasakit sasagutin ng PhilHealth lahat ng kanilang medical expenses,” he added.
The retired army general likewise announced that the state insurer has so far released P1.6 billion to accredited hospitals to help them fight the virus.
“This is part of ‘yung P30 billion na kinakasa ng PhilHealth para maka-preposition tayo ng pondo sa mga ospital,” he explained.
President Duterte has placed the entire Philippines under a state of calamity amid the spike of COVID-19 cases. He also ordered a Luzon-wide community quarantine to force people to stay in their homes in a bid to contain the virus during incubation period.
Morales said Philhealth will shoulder free testing for COVID-19 as long as it is prescribed by a health professional.
All expenses of hospitalized patients under investigation (PUIs) will also be shouldered by the state insurance firm.
As of Thursday morning, there are 636 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country, 38 of whom have died while 26 recovered.
Globally, the virus, which was considered by the World Health Organization as a pandemic, has infected over over 500,000 and killed more than 19,00 in nearly 200 countries and territories.