A CONGRESSMAN on Sunday pushed for a measure that would expand state-run Philippine Health Insurance Corp.’s (PhilHealth) coverage by including mental healthcare benefits amid a mental health crisis.
Filed by Las Pinas Rep. Camille A. Villar in September, House Bill (HB) No. 10934 would expand PhilHealth’s coverage by including psychiatric, neurological, and emergency services for mental health illnesses.
“In order to address this seeming mental health crisis among our population, this bill shall expand the coverage of the benefit package to include all mental health disorders and regardless of age group,” she said in a statement.
She said the bill will help Filipinos get the mental health treatment they need without financially burdening them.
Citing data from the Mental Health Strategic Plan 2019-2023, the Philippine Council for Mental Health reported that about 3.3% or about 3.3 million Filipinos have depression. The country’s suicide mortality rate is 3.2 per 100,000 Filipinos, it added. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio
