Senator Bong Go welcomed the expanded Animal Bite Treatment (ABT) package now being offered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).
Go called it a timely and necessary intervention as animal bite cases are expected to rise during the hot and dry season.
As Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, the legislator underscored the importance of access to proper medical care following animal bites, especially for Filipinos in rural and underserved areas.
PhilHealth recently increased its ABT benefit package to P5,850, up from P3,000 allowing more comprehensive coverage for bite victims—including post-exposure prophylaxis, wound care, rabies vaccine and immunoglobulin, tetanus shots, and antibiotics.
“Kapag may nakakagat na hayop, ‘wag na tayong maghintay pa ng komplikasyon.”
“Kapag may nakakagat na hayop, ‘wag na tayong maghintay pa ng komplikasyon. Magpatingin agad sa health center o animal bite treatment center, at gamitin ang benepisyong iniaalok ng PhilHealth,” said the lawmaker, emphasizing the urgency of timely medical intervention.
“Ginagawa natin ang lahat para masigurong abot-kamay ang serbisyong medikal para sa bawat Pilipino, lalo na sa mga lugar na malayo sa ospital,” the senator added.
The increase in PhilHealth’s ABT package comes amid warnings from health experts of a possible uptick in bite incidents during summer months when more children are out playing and animals are often agitated by the heat.
“More than 700 accredited ABT providers across the country are now capable of administering treatment.”
According to PhilHealth, more than 700 accredited ABT providers across the country are now capable of administering treatment, with efforts ongoing to expand this network.
“Ang serbisyong ito ay para sa mga pinakanangangailangan. Hindi dapat maging hadlang ang kakulangan sa pera sa pagpapagamot, lalo na kung kalusugan na ang pinag-uusapan,” he stressed.
Go, known for his health reforms crusade, reaffirmed his continued push for accessible healthcare through reforms in PhilHealth packages and primary care services, particularly in far-flung communities.
From January 1 to March 1 this year, the Department of Health (DOH) has already recorded 55 deaths linked to rabies.
