Philhealth urges public to seek treatment for hypertension

The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) is encouraging those at risk of hypertension to get screened and seek treatment if necessary.

Stressing the importance of preventive care, PhilHealth president Emmanuel Ledesma also urged Filipinos to register and avail themselves of the Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama, or Konsulta package.

“It is the goal of PhilHealth Konsulta to diagnose and treat the early signs of ailments such as hypertension. Included in this package are consultation, health screening, laboratory, and medicines,” Ledesma said in a statement in Filipino.

An individual could be considered hypertensive when blood pressure reaches 140/90 mmHg or higher.

Risk factors include older age, genetics, obesity, physical inactivity, high-salt diet and excessive alcohol intake.

Based on the Philippine Heart Association’s PRESYON 3 survey, 12 million Filipinos suffer from hypertension. About 65 percent are aware of their condition, while 37 percent are on treatment and 13 percent have reached their target blood pressure.

According to Ledesma, the PhilHealth Konsulta package includes targeted health risk screening and assessment, initial and follow-up consultations, standard laboratory tests and 21 essential drugs and medicines including anti-hypertensives listed in the Philippine National Formulary such as enalapril, metoprolol, amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide and losartan.

All PhilHealth members may register at www.philhealth.gov.ph or at any PhilHealth Local Insurance Offices in their area.

PhilHealth is paying P9,000 for confinements due to hypertension at accredited Levels 1 to 3 hospitals.