For many families, hearing that a child needs open heart surgery is one of life’s most difficult moments. Beyond the fear and uncertainty comes another overwhelming concern, the cost of treatment, which often forces parents to travel far from home in search of specialized care.
Today, that story begins to change.
In a historic milestone for healthcare in SOCCSKSARGEN, St. Elizabeth Hospital and PhilHealth Regional Office 12 formally signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the implementation of the PhilHealth Z Benefit Package for Pediatric Heart Valve Repair and/or Replacement for Valvular Heart Disease and Pediatric Open Heart Surgeries making St. Elizabeth Hospital the first PhilHealth-accredited hospital in Region 12 to provide this life-saving benefit.
The partnership marks a significant step toward making advanced pediatric cardiac care more accessible and affordable for children across Region 12 and neighboring provinces, allowing families to receive specialized treatment closer to home.
During the ceremonial signing, PhilHealth Regional Vice President Dr. Hector Zenon Leonardo P. Malate thanked St. Elizabeth Hospital for its unwavering partnership in bringing life-saving pediatric heart care closer to Filipino families.
He emphasized that behind every case of valvular heart disease is a child and a family carrying both emotional and financial burdens, making the partnership a vital step toward giving more children a chance to heal.
Meanwhile, St. Elizabeth Hospital Chief Executive Officer Mr. Antonio G. Veneracion described the agreement as the fulfillment of the vision of the hospital’s founder, Dr. Jesus Veneracion, to make advanced healthcare more accessible in the region. He shared that many children have long been referred to Davao or Manila for heart surgery, with the cost of treatment often becoming the greatest barrier to receiving timely care
“This agreement is more than a milestone, it is a promise that more children can now receive life-saving heart surgery closer to home,” Mr. Veneracion said, adding that every patient will be cared for by a dedicated multidisciplinary team committed to providing compassionate, world-class care.
The ceremony was graced by PhilHealth Regional Vice President Dr. Hector Zenon Leonardo P. Malate, Health Care Delivery Management Division Chief Dr. Lizamar Banatao, St. Elizabeth Hospital Chief Executive Officer Mr. Antonio G. Veneracion, and Chief Finance Officer Ms. Krizzia Antiola.
#ZBenefit
#PediatricOpenHeartSurgery
#PediatricHeartValveRepair
#ReplacementforValvularHeartDisease
#PhilHealth
#PROXII
#WeCureWeCare
