(from left to right) PhilHealth VP for NCR Dr. Bernadette Lico, PhilHealth PCEO Dr. Edwin Mercado, IHD-AMI beneficiaries Jose Brozo, Juvy Busayong (wife of patient Jose Busayong), Dennis Garcia, PGH Medical Director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi and Deputy Director Dr. Margarita Lat-Luna during the ceremonial turnover of claims payment on Friday, April 11, 2025. (Photo Courtesy of PhilHealth)
QUEZON CITY, (PIA) – The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) paid the sum of P22.8 million to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) in Manila for the claims of patients who from suffered heart attack.
The said payment covers claims for PhilHealth’s benefit package for Ischemic Heart Disease – Acute Myocardial Infarction (IHD-AMI), which has extended life-saving services to at least 77 patients in PGH as of March 2025.
“Ang P22.8 milyong bayad na ito sa PGH ay simula pa lamang. Kami ay iikot pa sa iba’t ibang mga rehiyon para ating personal na tiyakin ang mabilis na pag-proseso at pagbabayad ng claims para sa mga serbisyong ipinagkaloob ng ating mga ospital sa mga miyembrong may sakit sa puso,” said PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer (PCEO) Dr. Edwin M. Mercado.
(This P22.8 million payment to PGH is just the beginning. We will be going to different regions to personally oversee the timely and efficient processing of claims to ensure the well-being of our members suffering from heart disease.)
PGH Medical Director Dr. Gerardo D. Legaspi conveyed his appreciation to the present administration of PhilHealth for ensuring timely access to critical healthcare services by streamlining the processing of claims reimbursements, ultimately extending the necessary support to patients requiring urgent medical care.
“Sa ibinigay pong pagkakataon na ma-improve ang service to heart attack patients, record high ang ating serbisyo — wala na pong charity na heart attack patient ngayon. Iyan ang improvement na gusto nating makita. And I think with this current administration of PhilHealth, we will be seeing more of that,” said Legaspi.
(With the given opportunity to improve our service to heart attack patients, our service is at a record high — there are no more charity heart attack patients now. That’s the improvement we want to see. And I think with this current administration of PhilHealth, we will be seeing more of that.)
Legaspi likewise recognized the efforts of PhilHealth Regional Office National Capital Region (PRO NCR), led by Dr. Bernadette Lico, for ensuring the timely provision of financial risk protection to members in vulnerable situations.
The IHD-AMI benefit package of PhilHealth offers coverage up to P523,853 which can be availed at all accredited Levels 1 to 3 public and private health facilities across the country with the capacity to provide the necessary services.
Juvy Busayong, wife of patient Jose Busayong who was able to avail of the said package in PGH, extended her gratitude to PhilHealth for its invaluable assistance and financial support that eased their burden during a critical time, allowing her husband to receive the necessary medical attention he needed without worrying about medical expenses.
“One of the doctors nagsabing may package na ang PhilHealth at wala na kaming babayaran. Siyempre, natuwa kami. Napakalaking pribilehiyo na kami ay makatanggap ng ganoong package,” Busayong shared.
(One of the doctors informed us about the benefit package of PhilHealth and we don’t need to pay for anything. Of course, that alone brought happiness to us. It is a huge privilege to be able to receive a benefit like that.)
“Gusto naming magpasalamat sa PhilHealth sa package na ibinigay dito sa amin. Sana po ay marami pa kayong matulungan at marami pang buhay ang ma-save,” she added.
(We want to thank PhilHealth for providing this benefit. We hope that you are able to help more people and save more lives.) (PhilHealth/PIA-NCR)
