Dr. Willie Ong, a prominent Filipino physician and public health advocate, recently urged the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to extend its financial support to cover life-saving medical procedures beyond chemotherapy. In a public statement, Dr. Ong emphasized the urgent need for free access to critical treatments such as angiograms, angioplasty, heart bypass surgery, CT scans, MRIs, and PET scans, citing the millions of lives at stake due to limited coverage.
“Chemotherapy should be free for all cancer patients, with at least ₱1 million allocated per patient from PhilHealth,” Dr. Ong stressed. He noted that currently, only a few types of cancer are covered under PhilHealth’s benefits, leaving many patients struggling to afford essential treatments. Dr. Ong called on PhilHealth to maximize its considerable funds to save more lives, especially for families without the financial capacity to shoulder expensive medical care.
Highlighting the urgency of his appeal, Dr. Ong pointed out the critical role of PhilHealth’s budget in addressing the country’s growing healthcare demands. “While PhilHealth holds substantial funds, millions of lives are sacrificed. The money should be spent where it matters most—saving lives,” he said.
Dr. Ong, who is undergoing his battle with cancer, provided a personal update on his health journey. He shared that he is now on the sixth cycle of his chemotherapy, which he hopes will be the final phase of his treatment. Despite his challenges, he extended a message of hope to fellow cancer patients. “Don’t give up. God has a mission for us. Thank you for your prayers—they are healing me,” he said.
His heartfelt appeal comes at a time when many Filipinos face rising healthcare costs and inadequate insurance coverage. Advocacy groups and concerned citizens have echoed Dr. Ong’s sentiments, urging PhilHealth to broaden its scope and ensure that life-saving treatments are accessible to all Filipinos.
Dr. Ong’s call for action is a timely reminder of the importance of prioritizing public health and addressing the pressing medical needs of underserved communities in the Philippines.