A free annual medical checkup for all Filipinos is now being pushed in Congress.
The substitute of House Bill 4093 aims to provide free blood sugar and cholesterol tests.
Its initial version included free annual medical checkup for diagnostic and laboratory tests for blood count, urinalysis, stool analysis, chest X-ray, and complete physical exam.
The number of tests was reduced following the deliberations of the technical working group but it could still be expanded depending on the capacity of PhilHealth.
Anakalusugan Party-list Rep. Mike Defensor said the expenses will be shouldered by the PhilHealth. The corporation is capable to cover everything with its funding of more than Php 200 billion yearly. An estimated amount of Php 5 billion will be needed to finance the proposal.
– Report from Daniel Manalastas
