Guv ‘relieved’ with PhilHealth’s ‘Z’ package

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Governor Lilia Pineda heaved a sigh of relief as the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) signed over the weekend an agreement with Jose B. Lingad Memorial Hospital (JBLMH) calling for the immediate implementation of the former’s “Z-Benefit Package.”

PhilHealth’s new “Z-Benefit Program” is a comprehensive treatment package for catastrophic illnesses like standard risk acute lymphocytic leukemia in children aged 1 to 10, early stage of breast cancer (stage 0 to 3A), low to intermediate risk prostate cancer, and low risk kidney transplant.

Eligible PhilHealth members and their qualified dependents covered under the package could avail themselves of rates like P210,000 for three years on leukemia treatment, P100,000 for breast cancer on the entire treatment course, P100,000 for prostate cancer treatment and up to P600,000 for kidney transplant.

“This is a welcome development for us at the Provincial Government because bulk of the cases we attend to every time are cancer, leukemia, kidney diseases and dialysis and other forms of catastrophic illnesses like breast and prostate cancer,” Pineda said.

“Sa bagong Z-benefit package na ito, magagamit na natin ang pondo ng Kapitolyo para sa iba naming may sakit at nangangailangan ng kalinga. Masayang-masaya ako sa package na ito at sana, mas marami pang PhilHealth membership ang maibigay natin sa mga poorest of the poor na Kapampangan,” the governor said, as she requested JBLMH and PhilHealth officials to immediately enroll a fourth district cancer constituent who was at the launch.

She added, “Alam naman ninyo na favorite program ko ang health, kahit noong hind pa ako gobernador. Gusto ko lahat malusog kaya itong Z-benefit ng PhilHealth ay malaking ginhawa para sa mga kababayan natin. Ito ay isang napakalaking partnership at napakagandang programa.”

Hearing that, Health director for special projects Jovencio Ordonia lauded the governor for her strong focus on health, which he said could only be found in Pampanga.

“Only in Pampanga! It’s true. The focus of Governor Pineda on health is worth emulating nationwide. It is only here that we could see the continuous improvement of government district hospitals that are complete with facilities and you will not find this anywhere else,” Ordonia said.

“Marami po akong pangako at utang sa inyo, ma’am, para sa facilities at upgrades ng mga hospitals sa Pampanga. Rest assured, tutuparin po natin ito in support of your notable health programs,” he added. (Jovi T. De Leon)