Are you a retired Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW), a foreigner, or a local Filipino looking for biopsy test centers in the Philippines that offer high-quality services for an affordable price? Or are you wondering how much and what type of biopsy test to take? Whatever the case is, read on because you’re in the right place.
In this article, we’ll answer the question, “What is the cost of a biopsy in the Philippines.” Also, we will discuss what a biopsy is, from the types of tests to the procedure duration. So, let’s get started!
How Much is Biopsy in PGH?
As of writing, the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) has not released its rates for biopsy procedures and other services it offers. But generally, the cost of a biopsy test in the Philippines ranges from ₱200 to ₱1,000. This rate does not include other procedure fees. In addition, the rates may vary based on the type of procedure you will undergo, like a breast biopsy test, core biopsy, lung, or chest needle biopsy.
For instance, the cost of a CT Guided Biopsy in other government hospitals is around ₱5,500 for the procedure, and the reader’s fee amounts to ₱8,800. Hence, it’s better to inquire directly at PGH Manila to determine the latest and exact cost of the biopsy procedures. Also, you can avail of the free online consultation offered by PGH. To do so, visit the PGH Online Consultation Request and Appointment (OCRA) System.
How long does a Kidney Biopsy test take?
A kidney biopsy may be recommended by your doctor for several reasons, like if you have blood in your urine or abnormal blood test results. There are two ways to perform a kidney biopsy: percutaneous and open biopsy tests. If the percutaneous biopsy method is applied, the doctor will insert a needle through the skin over your kidney. Then, an ultrasound will guide the needle into the kidney. Meanwhile, an open biopsy requires surgery to take the sample directly from your kidney.
Afterward, the kidney sample is sent to a pathology laboratory for examination, allowing doctors to identify any signs of disease. Regardless of the method, the entire procedure will take an hour. However, the kidney biopsy alone will last about 15 to 30 minutes. After the procedure, the patient should stay for several hours in the hospital. If there are no complications, the patient can go home within the day.
How Much is Breast Biopsy in the Philippines?
The cost of a breast biopsy test in the Philippines differs per hospital, whether private or public. According to PhilHealth, the cost of a breast biopsy in the Philippines is ₱2,800 for a needle core and ₱4,300 for an incisional, excluding the professional fee. In most government-owned hospitals, the rate of breast biopsy is around ₱3,800. For instance, the Capitol University Medical Center (Cagayan de Oro City) offers breast biopsy excision for ₱3,500. On the contrary, the cost of a biopsy in private hospitals is more expensive, like in the Asian Hospital and Medical Center (Muntinlupa).
This hospital offers various breast cancer screening services, from ultrasound to core biopsy tests and mammograms. They also have mammotome, which is a vacuum-assisted breast biopsy system. Below are the rates of breast biopsy at the said hospital:
- Core Needle Biopsy Package – ₱21,500
- Mammotome (Local Anesthesia) – ₱47,800
- Mammotome (Local Anesthesia) – ₱50,300
How Much Is a Neck Biopsy in the Philippines?
Under this biopsy test, a specialized doctor will take a sample from the patient’s neck. The doctor will examine the sample using a microscope to diagnose cancer. But how much is a neck biopsy in the Philippines? To use as a price comparison, check the neck biopsy rates below from the Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center (Manila):
- Neck Biopsy (soft tissue of neck or thorax) – ₱5,680
- Biopsy Excision or Lymph Nodes (Superficial or by needle) – ₱5,680
- Nasopharynx Biopsy (Simple, visible lesion) – ₱8,020
- Nasopharynx Biopsy (For unknown primary lesion) – ₱8,020
- Thyroid Biopsy (Percutaneous Core Needle) – ₱8,260
How Much is Skin Biopsy in the Philippines?
Based on the case rate performed by PhilHealth, the cost of a skin biopsy in the Philippines is around ₱2,800 for healthcare and P840 for the professional fee. Nonetheless, the cost of a skin biopsy may vary per institution. For instance, the rate of skin biopsy in government-owned hospitals is cheaper, like in Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center (Manila). This hospital offers skin biopsy (incision/excision) for ₱325. Also, here’s the rate of skin biopsies in the Philippines as per PhilHealth (procedure; professional fee):
- Biopsy (elbow area or upper arm) – ₱3,000; ₱504
- Biopsy excision tumor (elbow area or upper arm subcutaneous) – ₱4,000; ₱1,680
- Biopsy excision tumor (elbow area or upper arm, intramuscular or subfascial) – ₱5,500; ₱2,520
How much is a biopsy in Medical City, Makati Med, St. Luke’s?
St. Luke’s and the Medical City have not released the rates of their services online. Thus, we advise you to contact them directly for more details on their rates for biopsy procedures. Meanwhile, here are the rates of biopsy tests in Makati Med:
- Biopsy Clip Placement – ₱18,900.00 – ₱22,680.00
- Sono Guided Core Biopsy – ₱10,500.00 – ₱36,920.00
- Sono Guided Cyst Aspiration Biopsy – ₱5,150.00 – ₱10,720.00
- Sono Guided Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy – ₱5,460.00 – ₱11,730.00
- Stereotactic Core Biopsy – ₱11,450.00 – ₱40,760.00
- Bone Marrow Biopsy – ₱3,000.00 – ₱3,600.00
- Endomyocardial Biopsy – ₱13,380.00 – ₱16,060.00
- Biopsy Forcep – ₱2,360.00 – ₱2,840.00
- Biopsy – ₱1,945.00 – ₱2,340.00
- Core Needle Biopsy (ENT) – ₱5,070.00 – ₱6,090.00
- Excision Biopsy – ₱6,685.00 – ₱8,030.00
- Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy (ENT-PF Not Included) – ₱2,700.00 – ₱3,300.00
- Incision Biopsy (ENT) – ₱6,690.00 – ₱8,030.00
- Punch Biopsy – ₱4,200.00 – ₱5,100.00
- CT Guided Liver Biopsy Package – ₱53,605.00 – ₱82,430.00
- CT Guided Biopsy (Specific Organ) Package – ₱39,275.00 – ₱68,150.00
- CT Guided Kidney Biopsy Package – ₱46,985.00 – ₱75,810.00
- Lung or Mediastinal Mass Core Biopsy Package – ₱47,520.00 – ₱69,620.00
- Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy Ultrasound Guided – ₱3,770.00 – ₱8,860.00
- Lung Biopsy Ultrasound Guided – ₱2,640.00 – ₱7,500.00
- Pleural Biopsy Ultrasound Guided – ₱2,640.00 – ₱7,500.00
- Ultrasound Guided Kidney Biopsy Package – ₱36,510.00 – ₱58,620.00
- Ultrasound Guided Liver Biopsy Package – ₱49,195.00 – ₱71,295.00
- Prostate Biopsy Package – ₱47,500.00 – ₱52,000.00
- Skin Biopsy (Dermatology) – ₱1,000.00 – ₱5,000.00
- Kidney Biopsy (Nephrology) – ₱15,000.00 – ₱20,000.00
Which is the best hospital for Biopsy in Metro Manila?
If you’re looking for the best hospital for biopsy in Metro Manila, go for St. Luke’s Medical Centenr. But since it’s a premier medical institution, the cost of a biopsy in this hospital is very high. You can also consider other top institutions in the metro, including The Medical City, Asian Hospital and Medical Center.
Which is the best hospital for Biopsy in Cebu?
For those in the Central Visayas region, the Cebu Doctors’ University Hospital is the best place to take a biopsy test. Also, you can consider other hospitals that offer biopsy tests, such as the Perpetual Succor Hospital and Sacred Heart Medical Center.
How long does a Kidney Biopsy test take?
A kidney biopsy may be recommended by your doctor for several reasons, like if you have blood in your urine or abnormal blood test results. There are two ways to perform a kidney biopsy: percutaneous and open biopsy tests. If the percutaneous biopsy method is applied, the doctor will insert a needle through the skin over your kidney. Then, an ultrasound will guide the needle into the kidney. Meanwhile, an open biopsy requires surgery to take the sample directly from your kidney.
Afterward, the kidney sample is sent to a pathology laboratory for examination, allowing doctors to identify any signs of disease. Regardless of the method, the entire procedure will take an hour. However, the kidney biopsy alone will last about 15 to 30 minutes. After the procedure, the patient should stay for several hours in the hospital. If there are no complications, the patient can go home within the day.
What is Biopsy?
A biopsy is a medical test or procedure where the doctor performs surgery to remove and acquire a sample of cells, tissue, or fluid. The doctor or the medical pathologist will examine the sample to diagnose cancer. However, a recommendation to get a biopsy does not instantly mean that you have cancer.
But it’s the most accurate test to diagnose various cancers. Your doctor may ask you to undergo a biopsy if you exhibit signs or symptoms of certain health conditions. A biopsy is also for those who need to monitor their health or formulate a medical treatment.
Apart from cancer, healthcare providers use biopsy tests to diagnose other medical conditions, from inflammation in the liver and kidney to bacterial infections that cause tuberculosis. This procedure also helps doctors diagnose endometriosis, peptic ulcer diseases, and chronic pancreatitis. The type of biopsy test you need to take will depend on your health condition. Although being advised to undergo a biopsy may sound alarming, it is a painless and low-risk medical procedure. Therefore, a biopsy is vital to determine the presence of cancerous cells in the body or noncancerous condition.
What Are The Different Types Of Biopsies?
While the purpose of a biopsy is to collect samples of tissue and fluid, there are different types of biopsies, including:
- Bone Marrow Biopsy – involves a needle and syringe to collect bone marrow samples to diagnose diseases, like blood disorders and cancers.
- Cone Biopsy – performed to remove abnormal tissue from the cervix and helps detect cervical cancer.
- Excisional/Incisional Biopsies – administer by making cuts or incisions on the patient’s body to remove tissues. It involves the removal of samples (incisional) or the whole (excisional) lumps or suspicious parts.
- Liquid Biopsy – a blood test that helps detect signs of cancer cell DNA or cancerous cells.
- Needle Biopsy – administered to collect tissues, fluid, or cells if they detected an uncommon bump or lump on the patient’s body.
- Punch Biopsy – utilizes a device to remove suspected cancerous tissues by punching a hole in the patient’s skin.
- Sentinel Node Biopsy – performed to determine if an original tumor spreads cancer cells.
- Shave Biopsy – utilizes a razor to shave or scrape a sample of skin cells from the patient to diagnose skin cancer.
What Are the Factors Affecting Biopsy Costs?
There are many factors affecting biopsy costs. As stated earlier, the rates of a biopsy procedure vary per hospital. If you take the procedure from a government-owned hospital, it is cheaper than in private medical institutions. Thus, the hospital you choose to take the test is one of the top influencing factors of biopsy cost. Another factor affecting the cost of a biopsy is the type of test you need to take. For instance, a level 1 biopsy in a public hospital only costs ₱200.
But if you take a breast biopsy, it will cost ₱2,800 for the procedure alone. The cost of lung or chest needle biopsy is around ₱1,800 in government hospitals. Meanwhile, a core biopsy package in private hospitals can cost up to ₱21,500. Sometimes, a pathologist will require additional sample size for examination and accurate diagnosis, which can also affect the biopsy cost. Therefore, you should consider all these factors before undergoing a biopsy test.
Summary
To sum up, the cost of a biopsy in the Philippines will vary based on your chosen hospital and the type of test you need to undergo. Many medical institutions in the country offer excellent services. However, the rates of these hospitals are expensive for most Filipinos. That’s why we recommend looking for government-owned hospitals that provide quality yet affordable biopsy tests to detect early signs of cancers and ensure you’re free from any diseases.
Sources: [pghopd.up.edu.ph, lcp.gov.ph, doh.gov.ph, philhealth.gov.ph ]
