Philippine Healthcare
PhilHealth’s unpaid claims led to some hospitals’ closure -Luistro
A lawmaker has called on the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to expedite payments of hospital claims and check on hospitals that have not responded to denied claims, as the reason for the non-response may be because healthcare institutions have closed down.
Related:
- (For P7 million bill, only P50,000 covered) Justice Lopez recounts personal experience with PhilHealth benefits
- PhilHealth chief admits members suffer due to policy clash with DOH
- PhilHealth’s ‘broken system’ needs fixing, says DOH chief
- 30-year study: Households, not gov’t, shoulder bulk of health spending
- Watchdogs question PhilHealth fund transfer
- PhilHealth owes gov't hospitals P14.8 billion in unpaid claims
- PhilHealth owes PRC P320 million for COVID-19 tests -Gordon
“That’s why their emphasis has been to protect the fund and resist paying the health benefits of its members!”
-Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa
“We need to fix this broken system.”
“PhilHealth needs to pay the health benefits of its members! PhilHealth must not invest government funds in the bank. PhilHealth must invest in the Filipino people!”
13-year-old becomes youngest HIV case in Palawan
Health authorities in Palawan are raising concerns over the increasing number of HIV cases among minors, with a 13-year-old now identified as the youngest patient to contract the virus through unprotected contact.
Rabies cases almost doubled between 2020 and 2024 – DOH
Rabies cases in the country almost doubled between 2020 and 2024, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
The Senate deliberated on a bill that aims to address the alarming rate of injuries and deaths among children in tourism-related activities.
Unfortunately, it took a tragedy to spark action: the heartbreaking story of six-year-old Sandy Garrovillas, whose life was cut short during what should have been a birthday celebration. This is not the first attempt at implementing stricter safety regulations. In 2015, the late Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago filed Senate Bill 2733, which sought to penalize the absence of lifeguards, trained first-aid personnel, and emergency equipment in coastal and beach resorts, as well as resorts with pools. Despite its critical importance, the bill never made it through legislation.
Dengue outbreak possible this year, warns DOH
The Philippines should be on the lookout for a possible dengue outbreak this year, the Department of Health warned Thursday.
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Philippines reports outbreak of H5N2 bird flu among backyard ducks
The Philippines reported an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N2 bird flu among backyard ducks, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) said on Thursday.
COA flags P152-M idle freezers for vaccines
Based on the special audit it conducted from May 2023 to January 2024 on the national vaccination drive vs COVID-19, the COA noted that several ultra-low-temperature freezers remain “idle or unutilized” while these could be repurposed for keeping cancer medicines, clinical specimens, microorganisms, and other “sensitive” biological products for research.
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“This nonrefocusing or nonrepurposing of these valuable assets, with an estimated total value of P152,118,000, hinders their potential to contribute to other critical healthcare needs”
-COA
Philippines needs to triple hospital bed capacity — DOH
For every 1,000 people, only 0.5 hospital beds are available on average. This needs to be tripled to 1.5 beds, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Thursday, January 16.
(COA advises OP) Be stricter in granting financial assistance
In its 2023 annual audit report on the OP, the COA noted the low utilization rate of the financial assistance of P1.53 billion released to LGUs and government hospitals for the acquisition of medical equipment and for treatment and hospitalization of indigent patients.
We didn’t abandon duty, we weren’t paid -Manila’s ex-trash collector
The previous waste management contractor in the City of Manila has disputed allegations that it abandoned its duty to collect trash, maintaining that it informed the local government that it would no longer serve the city once the contract ended on December 31.
Philippines’ zero-waste bid relies on informal workers
The Philippines requires 42,000 barangays and villages to set up their own materials recovery facility and door-to-door collection of segregated waste. But only 39% of villages have such facilities, according to the Commission on Audit. The task of managing local waste is often delegated to more than 100,000 informal waste workers in the country. Some of them earn less than a dollar a day.
Hospitals confirm 18% hike in health care costs
Filipinos may have to pay at least 18 percent more for hospitalization – possibly by the beginning of the second quarter of the year – largely due to rising costs of medical supplies, Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. (PHAPI) president Dr. Jose Rene de Grano said over the weekend.
DOH debunks viral post on HIV-contaminated blood sugar tests
In an advisory issued on Saturday, January 11, the DOH called the message a hoax and urged the public to avoid sharing such "unverified claims that may cause unnecessary alarm."
(Trump 2.0) PH stays optimistic amid worries on aid, health care
As Donald Trump prepares for his return to the US presidency, experts are taking a close look at the ripple effects his second term could have on the Philippine health care system which has benefited significantly from US assistance.
Presence of diatoms that can cause sickness, memory loss confirmed in Luzon
Researchers from the Philippines and Malaysia have confirmed the presence in Luzon of a type of microscopic algae called diatoms that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and short-term memory loss that may be permanent.
Poultry found resistant to antibiotics; study warns risks in consumption
A study from Cavite State University warns about the misuse of antibiotics on poultry, after batches of farm chickens in the province became resistant to antimicrobial medication, which raises the risk of disease transmission to humans.
Low funds, Filipinos’ sexual behavior get in way of HIV cure strides
Filipino doctors lauded the progress in the ongoing treatment efforts for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). But the Philippines is nowhere near making any breakthrough against HIV because of its scarce funds and poor sexual behavior among the general population, they said.
PNA hits ‘band-aid’ solution (hiring board flunkers) to nursing shortage problem
As “underboards,” CCAs have yet to pass the nursing board examination, making them ineligible to practice their profession in the country. During a meeting last week with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the Private Sector Advisory Council-Health Sector Group (PSAC-HSG) announced that around 300 CCAs had been hired in various hospitals nationwide as part of the government’s strategy to address the shortage problem.
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Doctors want meningococcal vaccine in Nat'l Immunization Program
Philippine Foundation for Vaccination executive director Lulu Bravo lamented the long process to include a vaccine in the NIP to help fight vaccine-preventable diseases among Filipino children.
“Hopefully in the future, once the government has studied the burden of disease and realized that it can be really fatal, they should add the vaccine for meningococcal disease in our immunization program.”
-Director Lulu Bravo
Climate change threatens shutdown of hundreds of Philippine hospitals — report
Hundreds of hospitals in the Philippines could face partial or total shutdown from extreme weather events caused by climate change by the end of the century if fossil fuels are not phased out, a report by a climate risk analysis organization suggested.
PhilHealth lifts 45-day limit on hospitalization
The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) has abolished the “45-day benefit limit” on hospital confinement of its members and their dependents, calling it an obsolete policy that denied some patients access to “critical services.”
Related:
- PhilHealth targeting 18% coverage amid scrutiny over excess funds
- PhilHealth eyes lower out-of-pocket expenses
- PhilHealth benefits now cover outpatient emergency services
- PhilHealth implements 50% hike in around 9,000 benefit packages
- PhilHealth eyes covering more of its members’ healthcare expenses
- PhilHealth announces increased coverage for hemodialysis sessions
Filipino-made AI tech eyed to help medical diagnosis, augment lack of healthcare workers
A new Filipino-developed innovation will allow Alternative Intelligence (AI) to aid in medical analysis and diagnosis of patients.
Marcos vows funding for vaccine and virology institute project
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday expressed support for the Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines (VIP) facility and vowed to look for funding.
Okada Foundation Inc. donates state-of-the-art medical machinery to Philippine Orthopedic Center
The Philippine Orthopedic Center (POC) recently received new high-tech medical equipment from the Okada Foundation Inc. (OFI). The donation is part of OFI’s PhP500 million commitment to the Department of Health (DOH).
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Bill makes higher pay mandatory for health workers during pandemics
A bill filed by Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. will make it mandatory for healthcare workers to receive higher minimum wages and additional benefits and allowances during pandemics, epidemics, and other public health emergencies as compensation for their hard work and dedication.
BIR exempts more cancer, diabetes, and mental illness medicines from VAT
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has exempted 16 more medicines for cancer, diabetes, and mental illness from value-added tax (VAT).
Philippines improves zero dose rankings
The Philippines is no longer considered one of the top five countries having “zero dose children” or children who failed to receive a single dose of any routine vaccination, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
‘P11.12 B allocated for specialty hospitals in 2024 – Bongbong Marcos
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. on Monday said that P11.12 billion has been allocated for specialty medical centers in the 2024 national budget.