Nearly 23% of Pinoys with HIV/AIDS are OFWS

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) said nearly 23 percent of Filipinos infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are overseas Filipino workers. In a statement issued on the eve of World AIDS Day, December 1, Philhealth said a total of 1,729 OFWs have either HIV or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) as of September 30 this year. This figure represents 23 percent of the 7,684 total cases listed in the National HIV and AIDS Registry. Philhealth president and chief executive officer Eduardo Banzon said: “We wish to assure all HIV positive Filipinos who are (Philhealth) members that we are absolutely committed to look after them.”

 

Banzon added the state-run government agency will also extend complete assistance to OFWs who have HIV.

 

“We will provide generously for HIV positive persons, to include repayments for the cost of expensive antiretroviral treatments, if necessary,” Banzon said, citing Philhealth’s Outpatient HIV/AIDS Treatment Package which provides for a substantial allowance for annual reimbursements under the case payment scheme.

 

Banzon also added that Philhealth is “constantly looking for ways to further enlarge benefits.”

 

He also said Philhealth’s gesture to protect HIV positive members is in accordance with the AIDS Prevention and Control Law.

 

Section 22 of the said law calls for basic health services in all government hospitals to be given to persons with HIV/AIDS “without prejudice to optimum medical care which may be provided by special AIDS wards and hospitals.”

 

“We adhere to the principle that access to insurance is part of an individual’s right to health and is the responsibility of the State and society as a whole,” Banzon added.

 

PhilHealth is also committed to safeguard the right to confidentiality of HIV positive members, he said.

 

“All claims by HIV positive persons are put in sealed envelopes marked confidential. Our staff members who process specific claims are also duty-bound to ensure the patient’s right to privacy,” Banzon added.

 

HIV cases on the rise

 

HIV may lead to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), which is not curable. Its progress, however, may be slowed down by antiretroviral treatment.

 

New HIV infections increased by 40 percent from January to September this year as compared to the same period in 2010, according to figures from the Department of Health.

 

A total of 1,669 new HIV infections have been discovered during the said period. The number of cases stood at 1,201 for the same period last year.

 

Of these cases, 9 out of 10 were contracted through high-risk sexual contact.

 

Citing the World Health Organization, PhilHealth, in its statement, said the Philippines is counted as one of seven countries in the world with “rapidly increasing new HIV infections, despite the global downtrend.”

 

The other countries where HIV cases are growing are Armenia, Bangladesh, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.

 

The Philippine National AIDS Council has said that up to 46,000 Filipinos may be diagnosed with HIV by 2015 if the spread of the virus is not checked.

 

Dr. Edsel Salvana, a specialist in infectious disease medicine, has estimated that the government may find itself spending P1 billion annually by 2015 for antiretroviral drugs, given the rate at which new HIV cases are spotted.  - RSJ/VVP, GMA News