MANILA, March 12 -- The Department of Health (DOH) has instructed the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to include mammograms and ultrasound in its Konsulta Packages nationwide.

"I have directed the PhilHealth Benefits Committee, chaired by Assistant Secretary Domingo, to work on adding ultrasound and mammogram services in the current nationwide Konsulta benefit package, for immediate implementation nationwide," Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said in a statement on Tuesday.

Herbosa said the move would "ensure sustainable financing of preventive health services that can catch cancer and other conditions early".

"So that we can unload higher level hospitals within the health care provider network," he added.

In Febr...