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PhilHealth 12 starts role in gov't drug rehab program

KORONADAL CITY, Dec. 8 (PNA) -– The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) in Region 12 has started the rehabilitation program for drug dependents who submitted themselves to rehab by launching today the Medical Detoxification Package (MDP), officials said.

”This is in support of the national government’s campaign against illegal drugs,” Dr. Miriam Grace G. Pamonag, PhilHealth regional vice president, said of the Php10,000 per case detoxification package.

She said the program is now part of PhilHealth's list of services as government continues its relentless battle against illegal drugs, saving them from the menace and prioritizing drug personalities who expressed desire to reform.

Pamonag said the package includes services for medical detoxification, professional fee and additional coverage for other co-morbidities like substance use disorder, psychosis, ischemic heart disease with myocardial infarction, dilated cardiomyopathy, stroke, seizures, acute renal failure and gastrointestinal cases relative to drug abuse.

Pamonag said PhilHealth members may avail of this package through accredited levels 1, 2 and 3 government hospitals and Drug Abuse Treatment Rehabilitation Centers licensed/certified by the Department of Health and accredited by PhilHealth.

She added that all indigent, “kasambahay” (househelp), sponsored, lifetime and senior citizen members are entitled to the “No Balance Billing” while members from other sectors like employed, self-employed and Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) may avail the same but with co-payment not exceeding the package rate.

All claims, according to Pamonag, shall be filed only by the Health Care Institutions (HCI), hence, members are not allowed to do direct filing.

The PhilHealth’s drug detox program will focus mainly on interventions during the withdrawal period, considered to be the most crucial since abrupt withdrawal may cause blood pressure to shoot up and result in kidney problems.

Under the program, the detoxification period may last between 30 to 90 days, depending on how the body responds and the extent of drug use.

Workers of the Drug Abuse Treatment Rehabilitation Centers accredited by the DOH will help patients/dependents in the management of symptoms that will come out once dependence on drugs goes down.

Region 12, composed of the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato, Sarangani and the cities therein, has listed about 32,000 individuals who admitted drug use and expressed willingness to undergo rehabilitation.

President Rodrigo Duterte has publicly announced his estimate of drug personalities across the country could reach 3.5 to 4 million. (PNA)

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