MANILA, Philippines – Tinitingnan ng Department of Health ang posibilidad ng pagsasama ng palliative care sa benefit packages ng Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).
“I’d love to see a palliative care or end-of-life benefit package. The range of end-of-life [care] is very broad … maybe the package will be included [in other PhilHealth benefits] like the one we give to cancer patients,” sinabi ni Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa sa isang panayam.
Dahil dito ay nanawagan si Herbosa sa palliative care societies at iba pang eksperto na magpasa ng proposal sa benefits committee ng PhilHealth.
Matatandaan na inanunsyo rin kamakailan ng PhilHealth ang pag-apruba sa enhanced benefit packages para sa heart attacks, 10 rare diseases, preventive oral health, primary care, peritoneal dialysis, at assistive mobility devices.
Ang Palliative care ay kabilang sa mga serbisyo sa ilalim ng Universal Health Care Act (Republic Act No. 11223).
Samantala, tinukoy ng World Health Organization (WHO) ang palliative care bilang “an approach that improves the quality of life of patients (adults and children) and their families who are facing problems associated with life-threatening illness.” RNT/JGC
