THREE years after introducing the Z benefit packages, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) recently conducted the first-ever Z Benefits Summit at the Marco Polo Hotel in Pasig City to showcase the accomplishments, best practices and innovations of contracted hospitals in the implementation of the Z benefit packages.

Dubbed “Inspiring True Service..Sharing One Vision,” the summit served as an opportunity for PhilHealth’s partner stakeholders to impart what they have learned as well as the challenges they have encountered in providing the Z benefit packages. These insights are considered major inputs to the enhancement of the benefits.

In his speech, PhilHealth President and CEO Alexander A. Padilla emphasized the importance of having a strong partnership with health care institutions and making the benefits more accessible to members to achieve better health outcomes. “Our desire to achieve better health outcomes, especially for those who have higher chances of survival, has prompted us to introduce the Z packages in 2012. It was a real challenge and our journey towards strengthening our members’ financial risk protection through the Z Benefit Packages has made us realize a lot of things that will certainly help us enhance these packages some more,” Padilla said.

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The PhilHealth Chief also announced the addition of benefit packages for Colon and Rectum Cancers under its Z benefit package. PhilHealth covers treatment for early up to stage 3 of the said diseases, with benefit amounts ranging from P150,000 to P400,000.

Currently, the Z benefit includes packages for acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), breast and prostate cancers, kidney transplant (KT), coronary artery bypass graft(CABG), ventricular septal defect (VSD), tetralogy of fallot (TOF), cervical cancer, selected orthopedic implants, mobility prosthesis, orthosis, rehabilitation, prosthesis help (MORPH), and peritoneal dialysis first (PD First)

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Part of the event is a photo exhibit featuring real stories and experiences of PhilHealth members from various parts of the country who have availed themselves of the Z benefit packages.

Among the summit presenters were Dr. Gerardo S. Manzo, Assistant Director, Philippine Heart Center; Dr. Jose Dante P. Dator, Executive Director, National Kidney and Transplant Institute; Dr. Ramoncito C. Magnaye, Medical Center Chief, Batangas Medical Center; Dr. Julius A. Lecciones, Executive Director, Philippine Children’s Medical Center; Dr. Paul San Pedro, Philippine Orthopedic Center; Dr. Josephine Robredo Bundoc, University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center, Inc. and Dr. Leopoldo J. Vega, Medical Center Chief, Southern Philippines Medical Center. (Michelle S. Nisperos)