Davao City — The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) celebrated its 30th anniversary with the launch of new health packages for 2025, in a ceremony held on Wednesday at the Kapehan sa Bagong Pilipinas Forum in partnership with the Philippine Information Agency Region XI.

The newly unveiled packages complement the 13 introduced in September 2024, expanding PhilHealth’s offerings for the upcoming year. These include the Diagnosis Related Groups (DRG), Comprehensive Outpatient Benefit Package (COBP), and specific packages for heart valve surgery, children with disabilities, prostate cancer, cervical cancer and open heart surgeries.

Additionally, new case rates have been introduced for chemotherapy (lung, liver, ovarian and prostate cancers) and diagnostic services, along with enhanced Z Benefits for prostate and cervical carcinoma.

PhilHealth Region XI vice president Atty. Harvey Carcedo emphasized the importance of social health insurance in safeguarding the health and financial well-being of Filipinos. “We reaffirm our commitment to improving the National Health Insurance Program and ensuring that healthcare is accessible to all,” Carcedo said.

Despite challenges posed by political debates, Carcedo reiterated that under the leadership of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr., PhilHealth continues its mission to offer comprehensive health insurance to protect Filipinos from the financial burdens of illness and hospitalization.

PhilHealth has also made strides in improving service efficiency, with the average claims processing time reduced to just 19 days in January.

Carcedo encouraged Filipinos to support social health insurance and work together to ensure everyone’s access to necessary healthcare.