PROVIDING INHALERS FOR CHILDREN WITH ASTHMA

PROVIDING INHALERS FOR CHILDREN WITH ASTHMA

Asthma remains a common yet serious condition affecting thousands of Filipino children, especially in poorer communities. The good news is that PhilHealth now covers the cost of asthma inhalers for all patients who need them—not just indigent children. This is a welcome step toward ensuring that every child struggling to breathe can access this lifesaving device.

However, the sad reality is that many of the patients who need inhalers are unaware that they could get them for free from PhilHealth. Others might have heard about this benefit but are unsure how to claim it. Based on my own experience talking to indigent families, I’ve found that many are too shy or intimidated by the application process. Some believe they need the help of a "patron" or someone with government connections to secure these benefits.

This misconception must end. All eligible patients—rich or poor—have the right to these inhalers, with or without a political backer. And thanks to PhilHealth’s Konsulta Program, medical consultations are now also free. This is a critical piece of the puzzle because without proper diagnosis from a doctor, many children with asthma remain undiagnosed and untreated.

But there’s another hurdle: even when indigent parents muster the courage to visit a doctor and secure a prescription, they often worry about the cost of the inhalers themselves. They may not know that PhilHealth can reimburse these costs—or they fear they’ll need to pay upfront, which is difficult for families struggling to afford even the most basic needs.

For hospitalized asthma cases, this isn’t such a problem because the cost of inhalers can be included in the hospital bill covered by PhilHealth. But for outpatient cases, it’s more complicated. Patients typically need to pay first and claim reimbursement later—a process that’s both intimidating and financially impossible for many indigent families.

In some Rural Health Units (RHUs), there may be stocks of inhalers available for immediate distribution. This is ideal—but unfortunately, not all RHUs have these supplies. Worse, there’s no clear way for patients to find out which RHUs have inhalers available and which do not.

This lack of information flows into a larger issue: undiagnosed asthma cases among indigent children. Many children who should be getting regular asthma care slip through the cracks because their parents never bring them to a doctor for check-ups in the first place. This is a missed opportunity, especially since the 4Ps program already requires both mothers and children to undergo free regular health check-ups. Why not use these mandatory check-ups to screen for asthma?

But government action alone will not solve this. This is where we, the public, come in. I would like to mobilize netizens—both young and old—to actively search for indigent children with asthma in their communities and bring them to RHUs for diagnosis and treatment. If we know a child is struggling to breathe, we cannot wait for government outreach; we must step in and act.

I am also calling on all mayors to provide funding to their RHUs to stock inhalers for indigent children. This would not be a permanent cost burden because PhilHealth can reimburse these expenses, effectively creating a revolving fund that replenishes itself.

At the same time, I urge all teachers—who know their students best—to submit lists of indigent children suspected of having asthma to their local governments so these children can be evaluated and, if necessary, provided with inhalers.

This is not just about healthcare access. It’s about justice. It would be a terrible waste if the government already has programs and resources in place to help these children, yet they fail to benefit simply because no one told them these benefits exist.

Let’s work together. We all have a role to play in ensuring that no child gasps for air because they couldn’t access a simple inhaler. Whether you are a parent, teacher, barangay official, or just a concerned citizen, you can help spread awareness, assist families with PhilHealth claims, or simply bring children to their nearest health center.

We already know which inhalers work. We also know that PhilHealth covers asthma treatments—up to ₱9,000 for hospitalized cases and ₱6,300 for outpatient cases. We have the tools, the medicines, and the programs. Now, we just need to make sure they reach the children who need them the most.

We must make sure no child in the Philippines is ever forced to endure the terror of an asthma attack without access to the lifesaving medication they need. This is a call to action—not just for government, but for all of us.

Ramon Ike V. Seneres, www.facebook.com/ike.seneres
iseneres@yahoo.com, 09088877282, senseneres.blogspot.com

04-10-2025