Following the directives of President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos, Jr. and upon request of Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, Health Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa has directed the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) through its Benefits Committee (Bencom) to expand primary care benefits under the current and ongoing nationwide PhilHealth Konsulta benefit package. 

Earlier last month, Speaker Romualdez echoed the call of its members for PhilHealth to pay for half of the hospital bill even if in a private/pay ward. The Speaker and other lawmakers like Rep. Erwin Tulfo (ACT-CIS Partylist) have also called for PhilHealth coverage of primary care screening services like ultrasound and mammography.

"The DOH agrees with Speaker Romualdez. Following orders of President Marcos, I have directed the PhilHealth Benefits Committee, chaired by Asec. Domingo, to work on adding ultrasound and mammogram services in the current nationwide Konsulta benefit package, for immediate implementation nationwide," said Sec. Herbosa. "This will ensure sustainable financing of preventive health services that can catch cancer and other conditions early, so that we can unload higher level hospitals within the health care provider network," added Sec. Herbosa who is also a Trauma Surgeon and Emergency Medicine Specialist.

The PhilHealth Bencom will meet later this afternoon, March 12. This will be followed by a regular meeting of the PhilHealth Board of Directors tomorrow, March 13. Secretary Herbosa is the Chairman of the PhilHealth Board of Directors, and is represented in the Bencom by OIC Assistant Secretary of Health Dr. Albert Edralin Domingo.