Philhealth Rolls Out ₱4.1-b Covid-19 Fund

Benefit package for coronavirus patients unveiled; rate hike eyed.

- Analou De Vera And Genalyn D. Kabiling

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) said that a total of P4.1 billion is now being distributed to various hospitals in the country to assist them in the fight against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

“PhilHealth assures that hospitals are provided with needed funds to cover the costs of treating COVID-19 patients who are currently admitted or to be admitted,” said the agency in a statement.

“This will allow financial liquidity in hospitals to procure the much-needed testing kits, medicines, personal protective equipment, and other medical supplies,” it added.

The hospitals in Metro Manila that already received financial aid are: UPPhilippine General Hospital (P263.3 million), East Avenue Medical Center (P134 million), and the Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center (P106.5 million).

PhilHealth said that three medical facilities in the provinces have also received cash assistance.

These include the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center in Tacloban, Leyte (P150 million), Bicol Medical Center (P119.3 million) and Lucena United Doctors Hospital (P46.8 million).

The state-insurance agency said that it is also now processing the fund transfer to other hospitals nationwide.

PhilHealth said that for “immediate release” are funds for Quirino Memorial Medical Center (P150 million), St. Luke’s Medical Center (P146 million), The Medical City (P141 million), St. Luke’s Global City (P117 million), and Makati Medical Center (P104 million).