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Gov't expands free medical access, raises kidney transplant coverage to P2.1M
The government is ramping up efforts to improve healthcare access and reduce the financial burden on Filipino families, beginning with the rollout of PhilHealth's expanded benefit package for kidney transplant patients.
Coverage has now increased from ?600,000 to ?2.1 million per transplant, alongside expanded support for dialysis and maintenance care.
In a Malacañang press briefing on June 19, officials announced the nationwide implementation of the enhanced benefit package for adult and pediatric post-kidney transplant patients. The briefing also highlighted the continuing rollout of the Konsulta program, which offers free medical consultations, laboratory tests, and medicines in schools and communities.
During President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s visit to the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI), he personally witnessed the launch of the new benefit scheme and emphasized the administration's focus on strengthening both treatment and preventive healthcare.
Dialysis coverage has also been raised to nearly ?1 million per patient, and the benefit now includes essential maintenance medicines and laboratory tests—previously heavy expenses for patients and their families.
'Hatid namin ang bagong benepisyong naglalayong ipagpatuloy ang alagang PhilHealth para sa mga pasyenteng sumailalim na ng kidney transplantation,' said PhilHealth President and CEO Dr. Edwin Mercado. (We bring this new benefit aimed at continuing PhilHealth's care for patients who have undergone kidney transplantation.)
'Nais natin ang isang normal at matiwasay na buhay para sa lahat sa kabila ng anumang karamdaman.' (We want a normal and peaceful life for everyone, despite any illness.)
Mercado explained that the benefit expansion is backed by PhilHealth's annual financial planning.
'Mayroon po kaming taunang sini-set aside na kung tawagin po namin ay Corporate Operating Budget,' he said. (We annually set aside what we call the Corporate Operating Budget.)
'Ang amin pong estima ay hindi naman po ganoon kalakihan kaya po ito'y kayang-kayang punan ng amin pong benefit package budget po for this year.' (Our estimate is that this won't be overly costly, so it can easily be covered by our benefit package budget for the year.)
Meanwhile, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa acknowledged the growing number of chronic kidney disease (CKD) cases in the country, including among children.
'Tama iyan ano, mayroon ding bata na nakita si Presidente kanina doon sa dialysis center,' he said. (That's right, the President even saw a child today at the dialysis center.)
He added, 'Ang CKD natin ngayon karamihan dahil sa diabetes at hypertension... inatasan ako na palakasin iyong primary care prevention part.' (Most CKD cases now are due to diabetes and hypertension... the President has instructed me to strengthen primary care prevention.)
Herbosa also noted the need for lifestyle changes among Filipino youth.
'Sabi niya nga, mataas siguro iyong sugar content ng ating mga kinakain... iyong ating mga kabataan mabigyan ng tamang ehersisyo or active.' (He said maybe our food has too much sugar... our youth need proper exercise and an active lifestyle.)
The Department of Health is expected to roll out more preventive health programs in the coming months as part of the administration's broader push for stronger, community-based healthcare.—LDF, GMA Integrated News
