By Brian Jules Campued
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) will provide free annual mammogram and ultrasound services to Filipino women starting July, House Speaker Martin Romualdez announced Tuesday.
“This is the best news we can give to the Filipino women, especially during Women’s Month,” Romualdez said in a statement.
He made the announcement following a Monday meeting with ACT-CIS Partylist Rep. Erwin Tulfo and PhilHealth officials headed by its president and chief executive officer, Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. to seek updates regarding the request of the Congress for the implementation of the free services.
Ledesma assured Romualdez that their call could be achieved by July 2024.
“We will deliver, sir. We will not fail you; we need to deliver. We are really confident that we will be able to fulfill your request,” the PhilHealth chief said.
The Speaker also stressed that offering essential services for free could help in the early detection of various health concerns for women such as breast cancer.
He likewise lauded PhilHealth for responding to the request of the House leadership.
“This initiative reflects the commitment of the administration of President Marcos to prioritize the health and well-being of Filipino women, ensuring access to crucial preventive care,” he continued.
Meanwhile, Romualdez hoped that this latest development would further enhance the relationship between Congress and PhilHealth to uphold shared commitment to deliver basic healthcare services to the public.
“As representatives of the people, we are sensitive to the needs of our constituents, we are sensitive to the needs of our people. Together, through collaborative efforts and initiatives, we can work towards achieving better health outcomes and a brighter future for all Filipinos as envisioned by President Marcos,” he said. – avds
