Amai Pakpak Medical Center (APMC) Chief Dr. Shalimar S. Rakiin and PhilHealth-BARMM Regional Vice President Datu Masiding M. Alonto Jr. sign a memorandum of agreement on March 3, 2025, accrediting APMC as a provider for the Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) Z Benefit Package. The agreement aims to expand access to affordable heart bypass surgery for eligible patients in Lanao del Sur and neighboring provinces. (Photo courtesy of APMC)
MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA) — Patients needing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery can now access the Z-Benefit Package at Amai Pakpak Medical Center (APMC), following a memorandum of agreement (MoA) between APMC and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PhilHealth-BARMM) on March 3.
The CABG Z-Benefit Package provides eligible members up to 550,000 pesos in coverage, including medicines, laboratory tests, operating room fees and professional fees.
“With the opening of APMC’s Heart Institute in August 2023, and now the Z-benefit accreditation for CABG, APMC is on its path to becoming a regional apex multi-specialist center in Mindanao,” said Datu Masiding M. Alonto Jr., PhilHealth-BARMM regional vice president.
Alonto said the MoA strengthens the partnership between APMC and PhilHealth. He also announced a new PhilHealth circular for Z-Benefit Packages covering open-heart surgeries, aiming to address the high cost of such procedures.
“Open-heart surgeries are some of the most costly operations causing extreme financial burden to Filipinos,” Alonto said. “It is therefore necessary that the support value for open-heart surgeries and other high-cost medical procedures and diseases be increased.”
Dr. Shalimar Sani-Rakiin, APMC chief, said the agreement reflects a shared commitment to accessible healthcare in Mindanao. She said the accreditation fulfills APMC’s goal of providing life-changing treatment.
Rakiin acknowledged the Philippine Heart Center (PHC) and Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) for their guidance. She also thanked PhilHealth-BARMM.
“Your dedication to making healthcare more accessible and inclusive is a powerful force in bridging the gaps in medical services,” Rakiin said.
Dr. Ali T. Macatanong, head of the APMC Heart Institute, encouraged patients in Lanao del Sur and nearby provinces to use the CABG Z-Benefit Package. He said the package allows patients to receive the surgery without out-of-pocket expenses. He also assured that PhilHealth will cover expenses for indigent patients. (APB/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)
