Amid the controversies saddling the state-owned Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), it is now aggressively pushing for the public to avail of its services particularly the benefit package for heart attack, which it said now has over 15 times larger financial aid, and free consultations amid the rise of food-related illnesses due to the holiday celebrations.

“We have listened to the patients and their families, and with the cooperation of our partner health facilities, we have been able to determine the prevailing costs that led us to adjust and substantially increase our financial support in these life-saving treatments,” PhilHealth president and chief executive officer Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. indicated.

PhilHealth said it expanded the benefit rates of various medical services associated with heart attack under PhilHealth Circular 2024-0032.

The insurer increased support for percutaneous coronary intervention by 1,629 percent to P524,000 from P30,300.

PhilHealth said this medical procedure is available at 70 PhilHealth-accredited Cath Labs nationwide.

PhilHealth also expanded aid for fibrinolysis by 900 percent to P133,500 from P30,290.

Rehab covered

Meanwhile, the support for emergency medical services with coordinated referral and interfacility transfer is given at P21,900 and the cardiac rehabilitation at P66,140.

Heart attack, also known as Ischemic Heart Disease-Acute Myocardial Infarction, occurs when a person’s blood flow becomes blocked by fat buildup in the coronary arteries.

To monitor and manage cholesterol levels, Ledesma said the public can visit PhilHealth-accredited Konsulta centers to have free consultations, laboratory tests and medicines. Konsulta centers have increased to over 1,500.

“Through the Konsulta, we can identify potential health risks early on, including family history of heart disease, allowing for timely interventions such as medication for cholesterol management and lifestyle advice, to prevent or mitigate the development of heart disease,” he said.

According to the Department of Health, cases of heart attack and similar diseases surged by 3,000 percent from two patients to 62 patients between 23 and 30 December.