MANILA, Philippines — The number of persons under investigation (PUIs) for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) nationwide has climbed to 539, a Department of Health (DOH) report showed.
The DOH reported 12 new cases as of yesterday morning, with 135 of the total remaining admitted or confined at different medical facilities in the country for the required 14-day quarantine, and 401 discharged.
Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), meanwhile, revealed it has approved a benefit package for members who are being monitored for possible COVID-19 infection.
PhilHealth chief Ricardo Morales said while they are covering treatment using case rates, the P14,000-COVID-19 package mainly covers preventive health services such as for isolation and quarantine.
“In severe cases where infection leads to moderate or high-risk pneumonia, we cover the attendant medical costs incurred by the patients,” Morales said at a forum marking the 25th anniversary of PhilHealth yesterday.
Israel Francis Pargas, PhilHealth senior vice president for health finance policy sector, said they were also studying proposals to expand the package to cover the series of tests for the virus – which costs more than the COVID-19 package.