PhilHealth: Beware of rabies, avail of animal bite treatment package
MANILA, Philippines — In line with the National Rabies Awareness Month, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) on Tuesday encouraged its members to seek medical consultation for animal bite cases, reiterating that an animal bite package is available to them.
PhilHealth said that the Animal Bite Treatment (ABT) package, increased from P3,000 to P5,850, covers “essential post-exposure prophylaxis including rabies vaccine and rabies immune globulin for immediate protection, local wound care, tetanus toxoid and anti-tetanus serum, antibiotics, and supplies which include syringes, alcohol and antiseptics.”
PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Edwin Mercado said that the ABT package is available in over 700 accredited ABT package providers, and will continue to increase.
“Hinihikayat natin ang ating mga miyembro na huwag mag-atubiling magpatingin kung sila ay kinagat o di kaya’y kinalmot ng hayop, alaga man o hindi. Ang rabies ay isang lubhang nakamamatay na sakit ngunit maaari itong maiwasan kung agarang mabibigyan ng bakuna,” Mercado said in a statement.
(We encourage our members to not hesitate seeking consultation if they are bitten or scratched by an animal, domestic or not. Rabies is a serious, fatal disease but this can be prevented if a vaccine is immediately given.)
The Department of Health (DOH) said that the Philippines ranks sixth among the countries with the most number of rabies incidents.
It reported last Saturday that rabies cases rose by 81.28% from 235 in 2020 to 426 in 2024. All of these cases in 2024 resulted in deaths.
The DOH also recorded 55 cases of rabies from January 1, 2025 to March 1, 2025, noting a 39% decrease from the 90 cases it logged during the same period last year.
“Pinaaalalahanan natin ang publiko na ang unang hakbang sa pag-iwas sa rabies ay ang pagpapabakuna ng ating mga alagang hayop. Let us all be responsible pet owners,” Mercado added.
(We remind the public that the first step in preventing rabies is to vaccinate our pets. Let us all be responsible pet owners.)
READ: Deadly bite: Rabies remains a huge global public health concern
For more details of the ABT and other packages, members may contact PhilHealth’s 24/7 touch points at (02) 866-225-88 or mobile numbers 0998-857-2957, 0968-865-4670, 0917-127-5987, or 0917-110-9812.
