MANILA – Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara urged the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to cover fees for psychiatric consultations.
Angara cited a 2011 World Health Organization (WHO) study showing that over 300 million people live with depression, making it the leading cause of ill health and disability worldwide.
In Southeast Asia, the Philippines has the highest incidence of depression, according to WHO.
“Mental and behavioral disorders can lead to impairment in judgment, self-inflicted pain, or worse, suicide. These can be prevented,” the senator said.
He added that “early intervention through consultation with psychiatrists and proper medication should be readily accessible for ordinary Filipinos.”
“Hindi dapat maging hadlang, lalo na sa mga mahihirap, ang malaking gastusin para sila ay magpatingin at magpagamot,” Angara stressed.
American chef Anthony Bourdain and fashion designer Kate Spade recently died after taking their own lives. Their deaths have sparked calls to strengthen mental health policies across the world.
PhilHealth currently covers hospitalization due to acute attacks of mental and behavioral disorders at a package rate of P7,800. Consultations and medicines are not covered under the package.
In 2016, the Department of Health (DOH) launched a national suicide prevention hotline called HOPELINE.
Its service, however, is limited to answering calls and questions, and referring patients to mental health professionals, Angara noted.
“Another problem is we do not have enough psychiatric facilities and psychiatrists in the country. Bagama’t isang seryoso at mabigat na suliranin ang pagkakaroon ng mental disorder, malaki pa rin ang kakulangan natin sa tamang pagtugon dito. Huwag na nating hintayin na lumala ang problemang ito sa ating bansa,” he said.
Angara is a co-author of Senate Bill 1354, or the Mental Health Act, which is awaiting President Rodrigo Duterte’s signature.
The Act aims to provide basic mental health services down to the barangay level by mandating the DOH to provide psychiatric services to all regional, provincial and tertiary hospitals while increasing the capacities of mental health professionals./PN
