CALAMBA CITY, Laguna — The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) Region IV-A and Calamba Medical Center (CMC) have strengthened their partnership to expand access to specialized medical services for qualified patients through PhilHealth’s Z Benefit packages.

The two institutions signed a Memorandum of Agreement on September 16, 2026, accrediting CMC to provide selected Z Benefit packages covering Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) surgery, peritoneal dialysis, and hearing impairment services for children aged 0 to 17.

The partnership is intended to give qualified patients and their families greater access to specialized treatment while helping reduce the financial burden associated with serious and life-changing medical conditions.

The enhanced CABG Z Benefit provides coverage of up to ₱660,000 for standard-risk cases and ₱960,000 for expanded or high-risk cases involving co-morbidities. The package also covers post-surgery care, including up to six cardiac rehabilitation sessions, medicines, and specified laboratory and diagnostic services.

For patients with kidney failure, the Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) Z Benefit covers a form of dialysis that can be performed at home. The procedure uses the peritoneum, or the lining of the abdomen, as a natural filter to remove waste and excess fluid from the blood.

The enhanced PD Z Benefit provides annual coverage of up to ₱510,140 for adult continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), depending on the prescribed treatment.

The package also covers catheter insertion and initiation, infection prevention, treatment of peritonitis, and laboratory diagnostics.

The partnership also gives qualified children access to PhilHealth’s Z Benefit for Children with Hearing Impairment, including applicable assessment, hearing-aid and habilitation services.

The MOA was signed by Dr. Edwin Oriña, PhilHealth Region IV-A Regional Vice President, and Atty. Pilar Nenuca P. Almira, president and CEO of Calamba Medical Center.

CMC vows to uphold standards, patient-centered care Almira said the partnership represents a significant milestone for CMC and reflects the hospital’s commitment to providing accessible, quality and patient-centered healthcare.

“We value the quality of care that we provide to our patients and consider ourselves an instrument of the hospital in preventing illness through preventive healthcare,” Almira said.

She noted that CMC has pursued international standards as part of its effort to continuously improve the quality of its services.

“Our hospital is now accredited by an international accreditation body in Canada. This is an international accreditation, and we are committed to meeting high standards and becoming more globalized,” she said.

Almira said CMC also seeks to further raise its level of service by ensuring that patients have access to physicians who are committed to healing and patient care. “We are fortunate to have many physicians whose goal is to help patients get well—not only to earn or receive a large professional fee. Our physicians have heart for their patients,” she said.

She added that CMC aims to remain accessible and reasonably priced while reaching more patients who need medical assistance.

“Calamba Medical Center is accessible and remains reasonable in terms of cost. We want to give, share and invite more people whom we can help,” Almira said. Almira also offered CMC as a potential partner for future PhilHealth initiatives, including pilot programs and research.

“For me, this is a milestone. We would like PhilHealth to know that we are here to offer our hospital as a partner. CMC can be your pilot hospital. If you want to start something, test it or incubate it, CMC is here to partner with you,” she said.

“If you want to conduct research, including on outpatient care, we are also open to that,” she added.

Almira said the signing of the agreement signifies CMC’s commitment to implement the Z Benefit packages in accordance with PhilHealth’s rules and standards.

“As we sign this document, we will be faithful to everyone. Today, we are blessed to formalize this partnership that will provide three important benefits—CABG, peritoneal dialysis and hearing impairment services,” she said.

“These are very important because they address three basic functions of an individual—the heart, hearing capability and kidney function,” Almira added.

“Please be assured that our signatures are a firm commitment that we will implement these benefits in good faith and in accordance with the guidelines, standards and procedures set by PhilHealth. CMC is an ambassador of PhilHealth,” she said.

Oriña: Every Filipino can access PhilHealth benefits

For his part, Oriña said the partnership supports the government’s goal of achieving universal healthcare coverage.

“Under universal healthcare, 100 percent of the population in the Philippines is covered by PhilHealth,” Oriña said.

He explained that registration in the PhilHealth database is separate from the broader concept of coverage.

“We have what we call registration, which refers to those who are already in the PhilHealth database. Around 96 to 98 percent are registered,” he said. Oriña said patients may still access PhilHealth benefits even if they are not yet registered in the database, subject to applicable rules.

“Benefits can also be given to non-registered individuals. Once you are in a hospital, you will automatically be registered by the hospital. So you can really use PhilHealth, and no one is excluded,” he said.

“Everyone, every Filipino, can use PhilHealth,” Oriña added.

CMC: PhilHealth helps make private healthcare more accessible Meanwhile, Dr. Rhodora D. Ocampo, CMC chief operating officer, said the partnership is aimed at improving access to healthcare, particularly for patients who may consider private hospitals financially out of reach.

“One of our goals is to improve access. Just because CMC is a private hospital does not mean you cannot come here,” Ocampo said.

She said PhilHealth coverage can help qualified patients afford treatment at private healthcare facilities.

“Through PhilHealth, patients have a means to afford private healthcare. That is where we come in. With these PhilHealth packages, we can help make private healthcare more affordable,” Ocampo said.

CMC as a healthcare center in CALABARZON

The partnership reinforces CMC’s vision of becoming a hospital of choice in the CALABARZON region and its brand promise of “Kalingang may Husay at Puso.” CMC is a 160-bed Level 2 hospital located in Crossing, Barangay Real, Calamba City, Laguna.

It provides primary care, specialized treatment and diagnostic services through a team of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals.

The hospital is home to several Centers of Excellence, including the Calamba Eye Center, Calamba Cancer Center, Calamba Kidney Care Center and Diabetes Care Center.

The Calamba Kidney Care Center has 80 dialysis chairs and is among the largest dialysis centers in Laguna, while the Diabetes Care Center provides comprehensive diabetes care in Southern Luzon.

Through its expanded partnership with PhilHealth, CMC said it remains committed to providing specialized medical services that are accessible to more patients and families in CALABARZON.