PhilHealth’s expanded outpatient drug list out

MANILA, Philippines — The state health insurer has released a list of 32 commonly prescribed outpatient medicines that have been added to the Konsulta program.

These range from regiments covering infections and maintenance medications for non-communicable diseases, according to Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).

Anti-infectives added were azithromycin, cefixime, cefuroxime, clindamycin, clotrimazole, cloxacillin, doxycycline, erythromycin, metronidazole, oseltamivir and tobramycin.

Anti-asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease drugs added were ipratropium and montelukast.

Supportive and other therapy drugs added were celecoxib, diphenhydramine, elemental iron, folic acid + iron ferrous, ibuprofen, mefenamic acid, naproxen, vitex negundo or Lagundi and zinc.

Anti-dyslipidemia medicines added were atorvastatin and rosuvastatin.

Anti-hypertensive and cardiology medicines added were atenolol, captopril, diltiazem, isosorbide dinitrate, isosorbide mononitrate, methyldopa and tamsulosin.

Gabapentin, medicine for the nervous system, was also added.

PhilHealth’s outpatient drug benefit package initially covered 21 medicines.

This brings to 53 the medicines covered by the program.

The initial medicines covered were antimicrobial, anti-asthma, antipyretics, anti-diabetic, anti-dyslipidemia, anti-hypertensives, antithrombotic, antihistamine as well as fluid and electrolytes.

PhilHealth has allocated P30 billion for the Konsulta package this year.