DOH to introduce new dance drive for PhilHealth run

MANILA, Philippines - To the tune of the 1963 hit song “Da Doo Ron Ron,” the Department of Health (DOH) will launch this weekend a new dance campaign to highlight the first simultaneous nationwide run of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).

Health Assistance Secretary Eric Tayag gave a preview of his dance steps during the 18th founding anniversary celebration of PhilHealth yesterday.

The new dance will be presented before the participants of the “PhilHealth-DOH Nationwide Run 2013” at the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta Park, Manila on Sunday.

Runners will converge in 18 major cities that include Manila, Baguio, Dagupan, Tuguegarao, Clark, Malolos, Sta. Rosa, Batangas, Legazpi, Iloilo, Cebu, Tacloban, Zamboanga, Iligan, Davao, Koronadal, Butuan and Marawi.

Proceeds from the fun run will be used to support institutions promoting the protection of mothers and children, including the Philippine Children’s Medical Center.

Dubbed “DOH Run Run,” some exercise routines have been integrated into the dance to encourage the public to do away with their sedentary lifestyle.

Health Secretary and acting PhilHealth president and chief executive officer Enrique Ona said that PhilHealth’s “Z Benefit Package” has been expanded to include five more serious ailments.

The Z benefits pertain to a comprehensive treatment package set by PhilHealth for life or limb-threatening conditions.

The letter Z symbolizes the illnesses that push patients into “prolonged hospitalization, extremely expensive therapies, or other treatments.”

The five new conditions covered by the package are the surgery for ventricular septal defect, a rare condition caused by a combination of four congenital health defects (P320,000); surgery for ventricular septal defect in children, which also pertains to a hole in the heart that is present at birth (P250,000); standard risk coronary artery bypass graft surgery (P550,000); external lower limb prosthesis (P15,000) and cervical cancer treatment (early stage P120,000; late stage P175,000).

Ona said that aside from the expansion of the Z benefits, PhilHealth would be coming up with more benefit programs to ensure that the health needs of poor Filipinos are met.

He added that the 80 percent incremental revenues to be generated by the passage of the sin tax law would primarily boost the expansion of PhilHealth.

Initially covered by Z benefits are acute lymphocytic lymphoblastic leukemia (standard risk), P210,000; breast cancer (stage 0 to IIIA) P100,000; prostate cancer (low to immediate risk) P100,000 and kidney transplantation (low risk/end stage kidney disease requiring transplantation) P600,000.