Senators discuss PhilHealth coverage for basic dental services

Senators are discussing amending the Universal Health Care Law to cover basic dental services as more than 70 million Filipinos suffer from tooth decay. 

According to a report by Ian Cruz in "24 Oras," senators discussed the limited dental services under the law which is supposed to provide free healthcare to Filipinos.

"Limited surgery lang po siya ng tooth extraction to cleft lip or cleft palate surgeries. Hindi po kasama ang mga surgeries sa private dental clinics at hindi po kasama ang basic oral health care services," Senator Raffy Tulfo said, citing the limited dental services covered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. 

(It’s only limited to tooth extraction or cleft lip or cleft palate surgeries. It does not cover surgeries in private dental clinics and even basic oral health care services.) 

Senator JV Ejercito, who is sponsoring the amendment of the UHC Law, said the inclusion of dental services is being studied. 

According to an article published by Harvard Health Publishing in 2021, having a gum disease doubles or triples the likelihood of having a heart attack, stroke, and other serious cardiovascular events. 

Tulfo has said that PhilHealth under the UHC law did not explicitly include dental health services and procedures, emphasizing the need to include a package for dental services and the provision of dentures. 

The National Health Survey in 2018 showed that 73 million Filipinos have tooth decay. 

The Philippine Dental Health Association said last February that 72% of people in the country had cavities. 

Free dental services from the government would benefit low-income earners like Mary Jane Besala, who does not have enough budget to avail oral health care services. 

“Gawa ng kulang sa income po.  May income man po kame, sa importanteng bagay na lang po ‘yun gagamitin,” she said. 

(We don’t have enough income. We may be earning, but we will just use it for other important things.) —Vince Ferreras/NB, GMA Integrated News