Dialysis patient lauds PhilHealth's increased benefits

MANILA – Aileen Climacosa Torres is one of the dialysis patients who took to social media their gratitude for the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) for the increased hemodialysis package rate.

"Na-diagnose po ako ng chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) noong March 2002, 22 years na po akong maysakit. Hindi po nagpa-function ang kidney organ (I have been diagnosed with CGN last March 2002, I have been sick for 22 years. My kidney organ is not functioning)," the 48-year-old dialysis patient told Philippine News Agency in an interview.

CGN is the inflammation of the glomeruli or the tiny filters in the kidneys. These filters remove from the bloodstream excess fluids and wastes which exit in the body in urine form.

"Kailangan magpa-dialysis para malinis o maalis ang mga toxin sa katawan ko at para madugtungan ang aking buhay (Dialysis is needed to clean or remove the toxins from my body and to extend my life)," Torres said.

Patients with kidney problems undergo hemodialysis three times a week.

Torres said she pays P700 per session of hemodialysis under co-payment or co-pay. Co-pay is the fixed out-of-pocket expense a patient pays for appointments, medications or services.

Apart from co-pay, her other expenses include maintenance medicines, intravenous medicines for high blood pressure, laboratory tests, X-rays, 2D echo, and transportation fees to the dialysis center.

Torres said she needs P17,000 to P20,000 to cover her monthly expenses for dialysis.

"Nung July 1 nag-memo sa dialysis center na (On July 1, there was a memorandum in the dialysis center that) 'no co-pay, free injection, free dialyzer and free monthly laboratory'," she said.

"Ang sarap lang po sa pakiramdam na hindi na magbayad ng co-pay para sa pang-dialysis ko. Kahit 22 years ang hinintay ko, naranasan ko naman na hindi magbayad (It feels good that I no longer have to pay for the co-pay for my dialysis. Even though I waited for 22 years, I have experienced not to pay)," she added.

The PhilHealth has increased the benefit package rate for hemodialysis to P4,000 from P2,600 per session on June 21.

Department of Health (DOH) Secretary and PhilHealth Board chair Teodoro Herbosa said the increase is aligned with the second State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. where he said that dialysis is now free for majority of Filipinos.

The PhilHealth Board also approved the catheter insertion and blood transfusion payments that may be claimed separate from the main case rate for admission.

In 2023, the PhilHealth has also expanded its hemodialysis package for patients with chronic kidney disease stage 5 to 156 sessions from 90 sessions annually.

Patients must be recommended by a licensed doctor to have hemodialysis and must be listed in the PhilHealth dialysis database to avail of the package.

The facility administering the hemodialysis will monitor the number of sessions availed by the patient.

"Panalangin ko po, sana po itong free o magandang programa ng PhilHealth ay maipagpatuloy pa ng mahabang panahon. Mapalitan man ang nakaisip nito, sana maituloy pa ng papalit kase ang magbe-benefit po talaga ay tayong mga dialysis patients (I pray that this free or great program of PhilHealth will continue for a long time. I hope that those who will replace the ones who created this program will continue its implementation because dialysis patients truly benefit from it)," Torres said. (PNA)