PhilHealth urged to grant free mammogram, ultrasound

(INQUIRER PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE)

MANILA, Philippines — As the nation marks Women’s Month, a lawmaker urged the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) on Tuesday to provide free mammograms, ultrasounds, and other tests for all female members.

House Deputy Majority Leader and ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo likewise pointed out the need for female members of PhilHealth to receive such examinations for free since breast cancer remains one of the top causes of death of Filipino women. 

“It was brought up in the previous hearings that basic diagnostics, x-rays, ultrasound, ECG (electrocardiogram) and particularly mammogram should be free courtesy of PhilHealth, especially for women’s month,” Tulfo said in English and Filipino during the Committee on Ways and Means hearing on Tuesday. 

Tulfo’s plea also comes after the state health insurer increased the benefit package for breast cancer patients to P1.4 million. 

In an earlier statement, House Speaker Martin Romualdez commended this move as he highlighted the importance of early detection in improving cancer survival rates. 

Based on the World Health Organization’s data, one in every 100 Filipino women is diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.

It has the third-highest mortality rate in 2020 at 17.7 percent after lung cancer (18.4 percent) and liver cancer (10.7 percent).

In response to Tulfo’s suggestion, PhilHealth – National Capital Region (NCR) Vice President Bernadette Lico said they would include his recommendation in their comprehensive allocation benefit package. 

The lawmaker, however, echoed Romualdez’s statement and asked Lico to expedite this process for early detection.  

“We should not limit these free tests to those with cancer; we should give access to those who are not sick or those who are not yet sick. Maybe PhilHealth can make these tests free,” Tulfo said.