MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Oct. 21, 2012) – The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation has signed up 13 hospitals in the country to treat prostate cancer cases at a packaged rate of P100,000 per patient.
Philhealth president Dr. Eduardo Banzon identified the enlisted hospitals as the National Kidney and Transplant Institute and Quirino Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City; Philippine General Hospital in Manila; Rizal Medical Center in Pasig City; Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center in San Fernando City; and Cagayan Valley Medical Center in Tuguegarao City.
And the Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center in Cabanatuan City; Batangas Regional Hospital in Batangas City; Bicol Medical Center in Naga City; Western Visayas Medical Center in Iloilo City; Northern Mindanao Medical Center in Cagayan de Oro City; Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City; and the Davao Regional Hospital in Tagum City.
The P100,000-benefit payment covers the full cost of treatment, hospitalization and professional fees, according to Banzon, adding they are now negotiating with other hospitals to add up to the list.
“We are now in talks with other public as well as private hospitals to see if they can be contracted to treat low to intermediate-risk prostate cancer cases at the packaged rate,” Banzon said in a statement sent to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.
The Department of Health said prostate cancer is the second most widespread cancer among Filipino men. Most prostate cancers grow slowly and never pose a threat. However, some prostate cancers advance rapidly to the bladder, rectum, bones and lymph nodes, and cause death.
20