PhilHealth launches benefits for post-kidney transplant patients

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. leads the launch of PhilHealth’s new Z-Benefit Package for Post-Kidney Transplantation Services, which covers medicines and laboratory tests, among others

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) on Thursday, June 19, launched a new set of benefits for adult and pediatric patients who have undergone kidney transplants.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the launch with a visit to the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) in Quezon City.

According to Malacañang, the new Z-Benefit Package for Post-Kidney Transplantation Services “covers immunosuppressive medications, drug prophylaxis, drug level monitoring, laboratory tests, diagnostic tests, renal graft biopsy, and living donor monitoring.”

Adult patients 19 years old and above will get the following benefits:

• P40,725 per month for immunosuppressive medications
• P18,932 for six months of treatment
• P11,242 for every three months of laboratory services for the first year and P8,125 for every three months for the succeeding years

Pediatric patients, meanwhile, will receive these benefits:

• P73,065 per month for immunosuppressive medications for the first year and P41,150 per month for the succeeding years
• P45,570 per month for drug prophylaxis or antibiotic to prevent infections
• P37,585 for every three months of laboratory services for the first year and P14,078 for every three months for the succeeding years

“Living kidney donors are also entitled to P1,900 worth of laboratory and monitoring services every six months,” the Palace said.

‘Front to end’ coverage

For patients with stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD), kidney transplantation is considered the “gold standard treatment.” But Filipino families are commonly burdened by costs even after a successful kidney transplant, since medication is lifelong.

“Marami po doon sa nagda-dialysis takot magpa-transplant kasi pagkatapos po ng transplant…ay iyong mga gamot. Ito po, iyong programang ginawa ngayon, front to end para mas maengganyo ang mga taong nangangailangan ng transplant na tumuloy na,” said Dr. Jose Dante Dator, executive director of the NKTI, in a Malacañang press briefing on Thursday.

(Many of the patients undergoing dialysis are afraid of getting a kidney transplant because after the transplant comes the medication. But this program we’ve developed now is front to end, so more people needing a transplant would be encouraged to push through with it.)

Back in January, PhilHealth also implemented expanded benefits for CKD patients. Hemodialysis sessions were increased from 90 to 156 per year, coverage for peritoneal dialysis was raised to a maximum of P1.2 million, and coverage for kidney transplantation was boosted from P600,000 to P2 million.

Preventing chronic kidney disease

The NKTI estimates that one Filipino develops chronic kidney failure every hour. The prevalence of CKD in the Philippines is 35.94%, significantly higher than the global rate of 9.1% to 13.4%.

Dator also said more than 100,000 Filipinos across the country are undergoing dialysis at any given time. At the NKTI alone, around 220 to 250 undergo dialysis per day.

To prevent CKD, President Marcos urged Filipinos to ensure children develop good eating habits, particularly by limiting their sugar intake. Diabetes can damage the kidneys. 

“Kaya kailangan din nating gumawa ng programa, turuan ang ating mga kabataan, huwag lang matatamis ang kinakain,” he said during his NKTI visit.

(That’s why we also need to create programs, teach children to avoid a diet consisting of sugary foods.) – Rappler.com