PhilHealth members assured of benefits in case of hospitalization due to dengue

Amid the rise in dengue cases in recent months, the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (Philhealth) has reassured members of benefit payments in case they are hospitalized due to the mosquito-borne disease.   “We are constantly helping to pay for the hospitalization and treatment of every member or dependent admitted due to dengue fever,” said Philhealth president and chief executive officer Dr. Eduardo Banzon in a press release Friday.   According to the press release, Philhealth members can claim P8,000 for cases of dengue fever or simple dengue hemorrhagic fever, or P16,000 for every case of dengue hemorrhagic fever with presence of shock.   The Philippines has the highest number of reported dengue cases among the seven Asia Pacific countries where the disease is rampant.   Based on data from the Western Pacific Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO), the Philippines has reported 132,046 cases of dengue from January to October this year—25 percent more than in the same time period in 2011. Of the total number of cases, 701 have resulted in death.   According to WHO, over 40 percent of the world’s population—around 2.5 billion people—are at risk from dengue, with 1.8 billion or over 70 percent coming from Asia Pacific countries.   The dengue virus, which is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, causes high fever, and in severe cases, could lead to internal bleeding and organ failure. While WHO says that there is no specific treatment for dengue, patients who suffer from it often receive oral or intravenous rehydration, or blood transfusion in critical cases.   Dengue prevention is limited to eliminating mosquito habitats and protection from mosquito bites, though a preventive vaccine is reportedly being developed. — Amanda Lago/KBK, GMA News