The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has released over ₱592 million to the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) between January 1 and May 21, 2025, underscoring its accelerated claims processing and expanded kidney care support.
This was confirmed by Acting PhilHealth President and CEO Dr. Edwin M. Mercado during his visit to NKTI, where he ensured that patients undergoing dialysis and renal therapies are receiving full benefits from the state health insurer.
In line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to ensure seamless public healthcare delivery, PhilHealth has reinforced its RISE30 Mission, which seeks to make health coverage more responsive through faster claim settlements.
Dr. Mercado emphasized that his visits to partner healthcare facilities help him personally assess how patients’ needs are being met and whether benefit claims are being disbursed swiftly and fairly.
NKTI reports that about one Filipino develops chronic renal failure every hour, translating to approximately 120 new cases per million people yearly, stressing the urgent need for consistent dialysis and transplant support.
To address this, PhilHealth increased its coverage for hemodialysis from 90 to 156 sessions annually, significantly easing the burden for patients undergoing lifelong treatment for Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 5.
In addition, PhilHealth raised its Z Benefit Package for Peritoneal Dialysis to ₱1.2 million and expanded its Kidney Transplantation benefit from ₱600,000 to over ₱2 million to ensure broader access to life-saving care.
Of the total amount released, ₱161 million covered hemodialysis procedures alone, indicating a surge in utilization, with hemodialysis emerging as the country’s top-paid medical procedure in fiscal year 2024.
Dr. Mercado noted the strong impact of these benefit reforms, stating that patients now return to PhilHealth filled with gratitude and relief, knowing their annual dialysis sessions are covered without interruption.
He affirmed PhilHealth’s mission to deliver fast, fair, and reliable healthcare services, proving that reforms are now directly felt by those who need them the most.