Screengrab from PCO

In a continued push to improve access to healthcare for Filipinos facing serious medical conditions, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. visited the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) in Quezon City on June 19, 2025. The visit marked the official launch of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s (PhilHealth) expanded benefit package for post-kidney transplant patients—both adults and children.

The President’s visit underscored the administration’s efforts to strengthen public health support systems, particularly for those living with chronic illnesses such as chronic kidney disease (CKD). Upon his arrival, President Marcos met with patients undergoing treatment at the NKTI Hemodialysis Center and its extension facility. He also took time to speak with individuals recovering from kidney transplants, listening to their experiences and the challenges they continue to face.

The newly launched benefit package reflects PhilHealth’s commitment to ease the financial burden of kidney-related treatments. Among the key enhancements are the increase in covered hemodialysis sessions from 90 to 156 per year, a significant expansion that brings support closer to the full recommended treatment cycle for patients with CKD stage 5.

In addition, PhilHealth has raised the Z Benefit coverage for kidney transplantation from PhP600,000 to PhP2 million, and for peritoneal dialysis, from previous limits to as much as PhP1.2 million. These developments aim to support both the ongoing treatment and the long-term recovery of kidney patients, many of whom face significant out-of-pocket costs even with existing insurance coverage.

Data shared by PhilHealth highlight the growing reliance on its benefit packages for dialysis procedures. In 2024 alone, the hemodialysis package emerged as the most utilized benefit, with disbursements reaching PhP161 million. The agency noted that this figure reflects not just the rising number of patients but also increased awareness and access to PhilHealth support.