House Deputy Speaker and Las Piñas City Representative Camille A. Villar has introduced a new bill, HB No. 10929, to expand the coverage of mental healthcare benefits under the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.’s (PhilHealth). The bill aims to incorporate psychiatric, neurological, and emergency services for mental health illnesses.
Villar highlighted the importance of mental health awareness not only for individual well-being but also for the overall health and productivity of the nation. She expressed her hope that this bill would enhance labor efficiency and productivity. Additionally, the proposed measure intends to address the increasing costs of mental health treatment by ensuring an appropriate increase in PhilHealth’s benefit package.
According to data from the Mental Health Strategic Plan 2019-2023 by the Philippine Council for Mental Health, around 3.3% of Filipinos, roughly 3.3 million individuals, suffer from depression. The suicide mortality rate in the Philippines is reported at 3.2 per 100,000 Filipinos.
Villar also emphasized the need for the bill by introducing a three-day mental health wellness leave for employees from both the public and private sectors. This move is seen as a step towards providing better mental health support and care for the Filipino population.