The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) is targeting to roll out free breast cancer tests such as mammography and ultrasound by June this year, the Department of Health (DOH) said Thursday.

Mammograms can help detect even those with early-stage breast cancer, the Philippine Foundation for Breast Care, Incorporated said.

This works even for those without symptoms since a screening mammogram will allow doctors to “look for signs” of breast cancer through an X-ray.

The DOH said PhilHealth on Wednesday responded to the call of Health Secretary Ted Herbosa, who chairs the state insurer’s board of directors, to expand the primary care benefits under its Konsulta package and include ultrasound and mammogram services.

“President Marcos and Speaker Romualdez want better health benefits for our people. Their marching orders are my instructions to PhilHealth. It is the pleasure of the Board to now bring up primary care benefits with mammogram and ultrasound services not just in sandbox sites, but nationwide,” Herbosa said in a statement.

PhilHealth also approved an increase in the capitation rate of its Konsulta package to P1,700 per patient per year. Private Konsulta package providers (KPPs) will also be allowed to collect a co-payment of up to P900, while patients in public KPPs will not be charged.

The DOH said that PhilHealth aims to implement these increased payments by June 2024 or earlier, depending on the completion of operational details such as IT system enhancements.

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