PhilHealth rolls out expanded benefit package for kidney transplant patients

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has launched an expanded Z Benefit package to assist kidney transplant patients, enabling them to focus on recovery without the burden of costly medical expenses.

In a statement issued Thursday, PhilHealth said the new package provides financial support for both pediatric and adult transplant recipients, as well as their living donors.

For pediatric patients, the coverage includes monthly financial aid of P73,065 for immunosuppressive medications during the first year and P41,150 monthly in the years that follow. 

Additional support of up to P45,570 per month is allotted for infection-prevention drugs. Laboratory procedures are also covered, with P37,585 provided quarterly for the first year and P14,078 quarterly in the succeeding years.

Adult patients, or those aged 19 and above, will receive P40,725 monthly for immunosuppressive medications and P18,932 for a six-month supply of other essential drugs. Laboratory tests are also covered, with P11,242 allocated for quarterly procedures during the first year and P8,125 quarterly thereafter.

Living kidney donors will likewise benefit from the program. PhilHealth announced that they will receive P1,900 every six months for laboratory work and health monitoring. “Ang mga living donors para sa mga bata at mga mas nakakatanda ay parehong makakatanggap ng P1,900 para sa kada-anim na buwan na pagpapa-laboratoryo at monitoring,” the agency said.

According to the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI), kidney transplantation remains the gold standard in treating chronic kidney disease (CKD), which continues to be one of the top 10 causes of illness and death in the Philippines. 

The NKTI estimates that 2.3 million Filipinos are affected by CKD, with one person developing kidney failure every hour.

There are currently 38 transplant centers operating nationwide, including 11 government and 27 private hospitals.