The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. is urging members and dependents, including overseas Filipino workers, to have themselves tested if they suspect that they may have acquired the highly infectious human immunodeficiency virus, its press release said.

PhilHealth president and chief executive officer Eduardo Banzon assured members, their dependents and OFWs who tested HIV-positive that they will be assisted through the outpatient HIV/AIDS treatment package, that provides allowance for annual reimbursements under its case benefit payment scheme, the press release also said.

He issued the statement as the number of OFWs known to have been found HIV-positive has reached 2,010, with the addition of 25 new cases in August. The overseas workers comprise about 20 percent of the 10,514 cases in the Philippine HIV and AIDS Registry, the press release said.

“We will respect every member’s absolute right to privacy and protect the confidentiality of their claims for treatment expenses incurred. In fact, all their claims are put in specially marked sealed envelopes,” Banzon said.

Registered OFWs, even while they are abroad, may file their claims through their authorized representatives in the Philippines, and PhilHealth will reimburse them as long as they submit the required supporting papers, Banzon added in the press release.

He said HIV-positive members may seek therapy in any of the 16 hospitals identified by the Department of Health as special treatment hubs, including the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City, Western Visayas Medical Center, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, and the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital in the Visayas.

“PhilHealth’s protection for HIV-positive members is our way of giving more meaning to the right to health of every Filipino and complying with the mandate of the AIDS Prevention and Control Law,” the press release added.*

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