St. Elizabeth Hospital has performed its first pediatric open-heart surgery under the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.’s (PhilHealth) Z Benefit Package for ventricular septal defect (VSD), expanding access to specialized cardiac care for children in Mindanao.
The procedure was performed on six-year-old Cristila Talino, who was diagnosed with VSD, a congenital heart condition characterized by an opening between the heart’s lower chambers.
The hospital’s multidisciplinary cardiac team was led by Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeon Dr. Edwin Valencia, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Anesthesiologist Dr. Ralph Philip Anislag, and Pediatric Cardiologist Dr. Denise Ruth Ruiz, with support from nurses, operating room personnel and critical care teams.
The PhilHealth Z Benefit Package provides financial coverage for qualified patients undergoing surgical treatment for VSD, subject to eligibility and package requirements. Coverage amounts to P498,000 for VSD closure with or without associated special conditions and P614,000 for VSD closure with severe pulmonary stenosis.
The package covers qualified pediatric patients up to 18 years and 364 days old.
Additional financial assistance may be available to eligible families through the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Health’s Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients program.
St. Elizabeth Hospital Chief Executive Officer Antonio G. Veneracion said these programs could help families manage the costs of complex medical procedures.
“For a child and family going through something as difficult as heart surgery, every form of support matters. We are grateful for programs such as PhilHealth’s Z Benefits, as well as the assistance that families may receive through DSWD and DOH-MAIFIP. These programs remind us that families do not have to face the financial burden of complex medical care alone,” Mr. Veneracion said in a statement.
He added that the procedure represented more than a milestone for the hospital, giving the young patient an opportunity to look forward to a healthier future.
“More than a hospital milestone, this is about giving a child the opportunity to grow, dream, play, and enjoy the years ahead. We are grateful to everyone who helped make that possible for Cristila and her family,” he said.
The hospital said the successful procedure marked a step toward expanding access to specialized pediatric cardiac services in Mindanao, potentially reducing the need for families to travel outside their communities to seek treatment. — Kaizzer Angela Marie V. Manuba
