Philippine Government Considers Including Mental Health in PhilHealth Coverage
PHILHEALTH – The Philippine government is contemplating the inclusion of mental health services within the coverage provided by the state health insurer, the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).
The government is considering adding mental health care to the services covered by the state health insurer, the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), to raise awareness and provide competitive compensation to mental health professionals.
According to a report from Inquirer, the importance of mental health has been emphasized by the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), especially during the lockdowns imposed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Jaime Montoya, executive director of the DOST-PCHRD, noted that the pandemic has highlighted various mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and traumatic disorders, underscoring the need for increased community awareness of mental health concerns. Montoya pointed out that efforts in mental health research and development were underway even before the enactment of the mental health law in 2018, significantly contributing to raising awareness among Filipinos about the importance of mental health.
The report states that the PCHRD, in partnership with the Department of Health, is working to provide support for mental health at the primary level, to transition mental health care from tertiary facilities to the community level to improve accessibility beyond hospitals. Montoya highlighted a challenge regarding the lack of awareness about mental health among barangay health workers, stressing the importance of education and training at the grassroots level.
“So, that is part of our objective. We are developing modules that will be adopted. We have separate projects on that which can be used by health workers and not just by doctors and nurses,” he added.
Montoya explained that these efforts can assist in promptly recognizing mental health concerns “and therefore, to make the appropriate interventions.”
He also noted that the PCHRD is currently partnering with PhilHealth to integrate mental health care into its coverage, ensuring adequate compensation for professionals.
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