President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday launched an expanded Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) benefits package, with increased support for patients battling kidney disease and plans to boost preventive health education among the youth.
Speaking at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI), the president unveiled new PhilHealth coverage for dialysis and kidney transplant patients, part of a broader response to what he called one of the country’s most pressing health challenges — chronic kidney disease.
“This is one of the highest incidences of disease in the Philippines,” Mr. Marcos said. “That is why we are responding this way.”
Among the major updates, PhilHealth will now cover 156 hemodialysis sessions per year, up from the previous 144. The benefit amount per session has also increased from P4,000 to P6,350, reducing or eliminating out-of-pocket expenses for nearly 990,000 patients.
For kidney transplants, PhilHealth coverage will rise significantly from P600,000 in 2024 to P2.1 million in 2025.
The benefit package now includes post-transplant medications such as immunosuppressants, prophylactic antibiotics, and other critical treatments.
Support will also be provided to kidney donors, recognizing the post-operative care they require.
To ease the cost of medications, President Marcos announced that PhilHealth has expanded its list of VAT-free drugs, giving more patients access to affordable, tax-exempt medicines.
In addition to ongoing facility improvements, a new building for chemotherapy and dialysis services is under construction at NKTI and is expected to be completed by year-end.
While the expanded health packages focus on treating existing conditions, the president underscored the importance of preventive care, pointing to the rise in kidney disease linked to diabetes and poor nutrition.
“We Filipinos love sweets that’s just who we are,” Mr. Marcos said. “But over time, it has led to more diabetes and kidney disease.”
President Marcos called for a long-term national campaign to improve children’s diets, urging parents, teachers, and even fast-food companies to help reduce sugar consumption.
“Until we improve the situation in our children’s diets, we are here,” Mr. Marcos said. “PhilHealth is here. The government is here. And we recognize the needs of our people,” he added.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “Marcos launches expanded PhilHealth package, new facilities at NKTI”
