Quezon City Rep. Marvin Rillo sees the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) paying up to P20.3 billion in dialysis claims this year amid the chronic kidney disease (CKD) epidemic sweeping the country.
“Considering the surge in the number of Filipinos seeking dialysis treatment, total claims payments are likely to increase by around P3 billion from P17.3 billion in 2022 to an estimated P20.3 billion this year,” he said.
The country is observing National Kidney Month “to raise public awareness of the fatal consequences of renal diseases.”
“We must guarantee Filipinos living with CKD ready access to free dialysis treatment to assure them a superior quality of life,” Rillo said.
According to the city lawmaker, with his help, two state-of-the-art dialysis centers in Barangay UP campus and Barangay Doña Imelda would soon provide “absolutely free” treatment to kidney patients.
The dialysis centers are now ready to operate and merely awaiting completion of the permitting process, he said.
Citing Dr. Wilmar Luz of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Rillo said one Filipino develops CKD every hour.
At least seven million Filipinos are suffering from CKD as of 2021.