SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez and Tingog Party-list Representative Yedda K. Romualdez yesterday said they will ask the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to include in its free diagnostic packages the prerequisite tests for suspected tuberculosis carriers.

The two made the statement during the health caravan organized by Rep. Yedda Romualdez and House Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janette Garin that served a total of 1,000 farmers and fisherfolks in Iloilo City, all getting medicines and medical checkups such as basic x-rays, bloodwork, health screening and laboratory tests, among others.

Speaker Romualdez said they will ask PhilHealth President Emmanuel Ledesma to include in its free Konsulta packages the prerequisite tests for suspected TB carriers.

The Speaker, based on Garin’s statements, mentioned that individuals with tuberculosis did not receive free medication due to their lack of preliminary kidney and liver readiness tests.

“Most of the time, suspected TB carriers have no means to have themselves tested for TB because of the costs it entails. According to Deputy Majority Leader Garin, ang nangyayari, hindi sila nabibigyan ng gamot kasi hindi nila mapa-test kung puwedeng tumanggap ng gamot ang kanilang kidneys at liver, tapos nakakapanghawa pa ng kapamilya o kapitbahay,” Speaker Romualdez said.

Rep. Yedda Romualdez, a registered nurse, said PhilHealth should include in its Konsulta packages the creatinine and SGPT/SGOT tests, which according to Garin – a doctor by profession – are needed for suspected TB carriers.

“This way, we can help more people get medical attention for a very communicable disease that can affect even children. We help the people who have TB and we prevent the spread of this preventable disease,” said Rep. Yedda Romualdez, chairperson of the House Committee on Accounts.

Earlier, Speaker Romualdez, Rep. Yedda Romualdez, and ACT-CIS Rep. Erwin Tulfo asked PhilHealth to give free mammograms and breast ultrasounds to women who may be suspected of having breast cancer.

PhilHealth approved the request and will start including mammograms and breast ultrasounds in its free Konsulta packages.

Meanwhile, the health caravan aptly called Bantay Kalusugan with Ate Yedda was undertaken at the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) located in Tigbauan, Iloilo City.

“Our farmers and our fishermen are usually the ones who do not seek health services from the government, either because they live in far-flung areas or they don’t have the resources to take the time off and prioritize their health needs,” Rep. Yedda Romualdez said.

“This is why kami na ang pumunta sa kanila. We took a whole range of medical services and brought them closer to the people who need them. Abutin natin ang kaya nating abutin,” she added.

Among the health services Bantay Kalusugan with Ate Yedda offered included medical checkups, basic x-rays, hepatitis screening, and blood tests such as cholesterol, SGPT, SGOT, blood sugar and creatinine, among others.

Also, the health caravan distributed appropriate medicines to those who had undergone medical checkups and were diagnosed with certain conditions.