Philippine Package of Essential Non-communicable Disease (NCD) Interventions (PHIL PEN) Protocol

In 2000, non-communicable diseases (NCD) make up two-thirds of all deaths globally as reported by the
World Health Organization (WHO). Diabetes, according to Philippine data (National Statistics office, 2009),
ranked top in the list of the 10 most prevalent causes of death alongside with cardio-, cererebro-vascular
diseases and malignant neoplasm. It is to no surprise that the Philippines have such results since belonging
to an Asian race leads to a predisposing risk factor to diabetes (Department of Public Health, 2016).
Hemodialysis, which topped as the most commonly reimbursed procedure by the PhilHealth, is one of the
complications caused about by diabetes. Because of such epidemiologic shift in the Philippines, Philippine
Package of Essential Non-communicable Disease (NCD) Interventions (PHIL PEN) was implemented
through AO No. 2012-0029, an adaptation of the WHO guidelines in managing NCD in low resource
settings country like the Philippines. The very aim of the PHIL PEN Protocol is to diagnose and manage
non-communicable diseases which includes diabetes. The usage of such protocol and the enhanced
Primary Care Benefit (PCB) Package is the proactive response of PhilHealth to this epidemiologic change
under the premise that primary health care is a key.

The acquisition of basic diagnostic equipments include but not limited to a glucometer, glucostrips, urine
dipsticks and such make up one of the general guidelines of the protocol. It also adapts the integrated
manangement of hypertension and diabetes protocol under the WHO Package of Essential NCD (PEN)
Interventions.