Cervical cancer coverage among PhilHealth priorities

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) is looking for more health care providers to partner with them in providing benefits for cervical cancer patients.

In a statement, acting PhilHealth president and chief executive officer Emmanuel Ledesma stressed the importance of more health care providers being contracted for PhilHealth’s Z Benefits Package for cervical cancer to ensure greater access to patients.

“PhilHealth is committed to engaging more health care providers to partner with us to make this more accessible to members and their dependents who are afflicted with the disease,” he said.

According to the state health insurer, there are currently seven contracted hospitals where qualified patients can avail of the Z Benefits package for cervical cancer.

PhilHealth pointed out that providing coverage for cervical cancer is one of its top priorities.

“Cervical cancer screening can be availed through the Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama (Konsulta) primary care package and cervical cancer treatment through the Z Benefits,” it added.

Since 2015, benefit claims for cervical cancer filed under the Z Benefits amounted to P31 million, according to PhilHealth.

Each year in the Philippines, 7,897 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and 4,052 die from the disease.

In May 2023 data from the DOH, 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.

Warning signs of cervical cancer show abnormal bleeding or foul-smelling vaginal discharge, bleeding after sexual intercourse, persistent back, leg or pelvic pain and unexplainable weight loss.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends screening for cervical cancer from 30 years of age in the general population of women or earlier for sexually active women.

Further, updated guidelines of the WHO recommend human papillomavirus (HPV) tests for cervical cancer screening, which is more cost-effective than cytology (i.e., Pap smear).

In addition, the WHO also recommends vaccination against HPV for girls aged 9-14, which is the first line of defense against cervical cancer. The secondary targets for HPV vaccination are boys and other females whenever feasible and affordable.

A recent report by Dindo Manhit of Stratbase ADR Institute along with other cancer societies and cancer-free movements discussed evidence-based and cost-effective interventions that will scale up the elimination of cervical cancer in the Philippines.

This also aims to officially launch the Zero Cervical Cancer Movement.

PhilHealth said it acknowledges the groups’ effort to bring down the incidence of cervical cancer if not totally eliminate this catastrophic illness through boosting immunization, vaccination and treatment control programs and fully support their future projects in collaboration with other sectors.

“Cancer screening will be included under Konsulta primary care package while the Z Benefits covers treatment for this type of cancer. This year, enhancement in select Z Benefits packages will include cervical cancer,” it added.