State health insurer the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) plans to extend coverage for cervical cancer screening through the Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama (Konsulta) primary care package that covers preventive care including consultations, health risks screening and assessment. Meanwhile, the Z Benefit Package, also under PhilHealth, covers the treatment for stages 1 to 4 cervical cancer.
Currently, PhilHealth has two Z Benefits packages that cover a complete course of treatment for cervical cancer for stages IA1, IA2-IIA1 where it pays PHP 120,000 (USD 2,197) for Chemoradiation with Cobalt and Brachytherapy (low dose) and PHP 175,000 (USD 3,204) for Chemoradiation with Linear Accelerator and Brachytherapy (high dose).
Each year in the Philippines, 7,897 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and 4,052 die from the disease. Cervical cancer ranks second in cancers among women in the Philippines and the second most common cancer in women between the ages of 15 and 44 according to the Department of Health’s data.
(Source: The Philippine Star)
