THE PHILIPPINE Health Insurance Corporation XI will shoulder some of the medical costs of 12 patients diagnosed with cervical cancer under the Z Benefit packages.
During the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM Ecoland on May 27, Health Care Delivery Management Division officer-in-charge Dr. Mari Allexis Campaner said the packages range from P120,000 to P175,000 worth of medical services.
“Yung 12 po na approve ng PhilHealth thankfully nasa early stage po sila so nasa 120,000 po yung pre approved na rate for them to avail,” Campaner said.
The package covers pre-op and post-op laboratories, surgeries, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, blood support, and others. The Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) is the contracted hospital providing the Z Benefit package for cervical cancer in Davao Region.
Campaner added they will increase the coverage rate for the Z Benefit package this year.
“This is also a reflection of how PhilHealth as a dynamic corporation responds to the evolving challenges and needs of the medical care and mga makabagong treatment,” Campaner said.
According to Dr. Cherry Joy Tabora, consultant at the SPMC’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, cervical cancer is the second most common disease afflicting women next to breast cancer. Most patients typically fall in the 35-45 age range.
“Usually, it takes five to 20 years to have the cancer. Mag progress kasi siya ng matagal. Usually, ang young age they will have the HPV infection but it will just resolve sometime. But the age of 21 years old and above dapat iscreen mo na talaga sila,” Tabora said.
Photo: Bing Gonzales
