House approves measure providing dialysis patients greater access to lower-cost treatment
Leaders of the House of Representatives have assured more accessible treatment for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, especially those from rural areas, following the Lower Chamber's final approval of the Comprehensive Renal Replacement Therapy Act.
Negros Occidental 5th District Rep. Ma. Lourdes
“Marilou” T. Arroyo, chairperson of the House Committee on Persons with Disabilities, thanked her colleagues for passing House Bill (HB) No. 6803, which provides comprehensive renal replacement therapy for end-stage renal disease patients, and provides free dialysis treatment for indigent patients in all national, regional, and provincial government hospitals.
“The passing of this bill provides significant assistance to indigent patients, particularly those from rural areas who no longer need to travel to urban cities to avail of dialysis treatment,” Arroyo said in an e-mailed statement.
The House leader noted that under HB No. 6803, Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients are identified as persons with disability and are now entitled the same privileges as persons with disability in accordance with Republic Act 7277 or the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons.
Arroyo, one of the principal authors of the bill, said the measure also expands the PhilHealth benefit package for kidney transplantation or renal replacement from both living and deceased donors, and increases the PhilHealth Z-benefit package rates for peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis after kidney transplant procedures.
Z-benefit package is offered to PhilHealth members to address health conditions that trigger prolonged hospitalization and very expensive treatments.
HB 6803 also provides the maintenance of a dialysis ward/unit in all government hospitals, and the strengthening of advocacy training for kidney related disease and establishment of counseling clinics for the benefit of ESRD patients and their families, Arroyo said.
For his part, Baguio lone district Rep. Mark Go, one of the principal authors of the bill, said once signed into law, the measure will expand
PhilHealth’s coverage to include renal replacement therapy among its medical services, and widen access to kidney transplants and other treatments for underprivileged Filipinos.
Quoting the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI), he noted that chronic kidney disease is the eighth leading cause of death in the country.
He said patients are discouraged from seeking regular treatment, explaining that one session ranges between ₱2,000 to ₱2,500 at a government hospital, while a private facility charges ₱4,000.
“The passage of the bill will make more renal therapy services available to less fortunate patients, and those coming from the provinces, including free dialysis treatment to indigent patients in all national, regional and provincial government hospitals,” Go, chairperson of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education, said in a separate statement.