File photo of a hemodialysis machine
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The yearly hemodialysis coverage of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has been expanded from 144 to 156 sessions, the state-run institution announced.
The expansion that translates to twelve more additional sessions for patients took effect on Thursday.
This means, PhilHealth members and their qualified dependents diagnosed with chronic kidney disease stage 5 (CKD5) needing hemodialysis may now benefit under this new policy.
The additional benefit was initially revealed by PhilHealth in February 2023.
In 2022, it had also raised its hemodialysis coverage from 90 to 144.
READ: From 90, Philhealth expands dialysis sessions to 144 for rest of 2022
鈥淎ng pagpapalawig ng benepisyo para sa hemodialysis ay patunay na ang PhilHealth ay nakikinig sa panawagan ng ating mga miyembro,鈥� said PhilHealth President Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. in a statement.
(The expansion of benefits for hemodialysis is proof PhilHealth is listening to the call of our members.)
鈥淧atuloy ang aming pag-aaral na mapabuti ang mga benepisyo ng PhilHealth upang mas mabigyan pa ng sapat na financial risk protection ang mga Filipino,鈥� he added.
(We continue to study to improve the benefits of PhilHealth so that more Filipinos can be provided with adequate financial risk protection.)
With this benefit expansion, CKD5 patients undergoing hemodialysis may avail of as much as P405,600 worth of treatment per year or P2,600 per session.
On a related matter, PhilHealth also said peritoneal dialysis (for kidney failure) should only be the 鈥渋nitial line of treatment鈥� for CKD5 patients.
It emphasized kidney transplant is still the optimum treatment for patients with kidney failure.
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