PhilHealth mulls increasing benefits for prostate, cervical cancer this year

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) on Friday said it is planning to increase the "Z Benefit Package" for prostate and cervical cancer. 

Interviewed on Unang Balita, PhilHealth acting vice president for corporate affairs group Rey Baleña was asked if they will also increase the benefit for more types of cancer after the aid for breast cancer has been expanded. 

“Ngayong taon, batay sa ating benefit plan, ay nakatakda din tayong maglabas ng enhancement sa ating Z Benefit for prostate cancer para sa mga kalalakihan at cervical cancer para sa mga kababaihan. Yan yung nasa pipeline natin ngayon,” he said. 

(This year, based on our benefit plan, we are also scheduled to issue an enhancement to our Z Benefit for prostate cancer for men and cervical cancer for women. That's what we have in the pipeline right now.)

Currently, PhilHealth covers P100,000 for prostate cancer and P175,000 for cervical cancer. 

On Thursday, PhilHealth said that it has approved increasing the Z Benefit Package for breast cancer patients from the previous P100,000 to P1.4 million, effective March 30.

The Z Benefits Package focuses on providing relevant financial risk protection against illnesses perceived as medically and economically catastrophic, PhilHealth said. —Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA Integrated News