PhilHealth urged to also cover other skin conditions
THE Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) has been urged to expand its coverage to include psoriasis cases or other skin conditions.
Anakalusugan party-list Rep. Ray Reyes was disappointed to know that skin diseases treatment lacks coverage under the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law.
“Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune skin disease that affects millions of Filipinos and can have a significant impact on productivity and quality of life. Philhealth should move towards its coverage now,” Reyes said.
“I urge Philhealth to recognize the urgency of providing coverage for psoriasis and take swift action to ensure that all Filipinos have access to the care they need,” he added.
Citing a growing field of peer-reviewed research demonstrating the medical and economic urgency of providing coverage for psoriasis, Reyes also said the World Health Organization (WHO) already raised the alarm by tagging psoriasis as a “global health concern.”
The WHO said such skin conditions affect up to 3 percent of the world’s population, with more than 1.2 million cases reported in the Philippines alone.
“Psoriasis can be a debilitating and stigmatizing disease, with significant physical and emotional consequences for those who suffer from it,” Reyes added.
By including coverage for psoriasis under Philhealth’s Universal Health Care Program, Reyes said, this would ensure that all Filipinos have access to the care they need to manage their condition, improve their quality of life and bring them back to the more productive sector.
Reyes, Vice Chairperson of the Health Committee, also noted that failing to provide coverage for psoriasis can lead to significant economic burdens for patients and their families as the cost of treatment for psoriasis can be prohibitively expensive, particularly for those with lower incomes or limited access to healthcare.
