Manila: The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has announced a significant enhancement to its outpatient human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment (OHAT) package, now offering an annual benefit of PHP58,500. This marks a considerable increase of 95 percent from the previous package rate of PHP30,000.

According to Philippines News Agency, PhilHealth emphasized its commitment to supporting people living with HIV (PLHIV) by providing increased financial access to essential healthcare services through comprehensive outpatient HIV/AIDS treatment coverage. This enhancement aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to improve and sustain healthcare benefits, ensuring adequate financial support for patients seeking medical treatment.

In his second State of the Nation Address, President Marcos highlighted the need for a societal effort to combat the rising incidences of tuberculosis (TB) and HIV/AIDS. He stressed the importance of a strategic plan that includes early diagnosis, treatment, and ample testing sites and medications.

The OHAT package includes antiretroviral therapy (ART) for individuals with confirmed positive HIV test results, regardless of their clinical or immunologic status. It ensures access to essential services necessary for effective HIV management and is available through 234 PhilHealth-accredited Department of Health (DOH) designated HIV treatment facilities nationwide.

PhilHealth also encouraged its members to sign up for regular HIV testing through the improved OHAT package. Additionally, a separate package for tuberculosis directly observed therapy short-course (TB-DOTS) is available for reimbursement at accredited facilities, with members able to avail of both OHAT and TB-DOTS packages simultaneously.

The state insurer has disbursed PHP1.66 billion for 176,819 outpatient HIV/AIDS package benefit claims in 2024.