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PhilHealth’s New Benefit Package Offers Relief to Families of Kidney Patients

by Alexa Villano
June 20, 2025

President Marcos launched PHILHEALTH new benefit package for post-kidney transplantation

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is one of the fastest-rising health concerns in the country, affecting both adults and children. For many Filipino families, especially those caring for a child with CKD, the financial burden of dialysis and kidney operations can be overwhelming.

According to the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI), about one Filipino develops CKD every hour, equating to 120 new cases per million population annually.

To provide better healthcare access and ease the burden on Filipino families, President Bongbong Marcos Jr. led the launch of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth)’s new benefit package for post-kidney transplantation services last June 19 at NKTI.

President Marcos launched PHILHEALTH new benefit package for post-kidney transplantation

What the Benefit Package Covers

The comprehensive package includes coverage for both adult and pediatric patients. It offers:

Immunosuppressive medications
Drug prophylaxis (antibiotics to prevent infection)
Drug level monitoring
Laboratory and diagnostic tests
Renal graft biopsy
Monitoring for living kidney donors

For pediatric patients, PhilHealth will cover:

Immunosuppressive medications worth ₱73,065 per month during the first year, and ₱41,150 monthly in succeeding years
Drug prophylaxis worth ₱45,570 per month
Laboratory services worth ₱37,585 every three months in the first year, and ₱14,078 quarterly in succeeding years

For adult patients (ages 19 and above):

₱40,725 per month for immunosuppressive medications
₱18,932 for six months of drug prophylaxis
Laboratory services worth ₱11,242 every three months during the first year, and ₱8,125 quarterly thereafter

Kidney donors are entitled to ₱1,900 worth of laboratory and monitoring services every six months.

The program is available for CKD Stage 5 patients and is designed to lighten the financial burden on families, promote better long-term health outcomes, and expand access to quality healthcare.

Marcos to Filipinos: Start with a Healthy Lifestyle

At the launch, President Marcos encouraged Filipinos to adopt healthier lifestyles, especially when it comes to children’s diets.

“Until we improve the situation of our children’s diet… we recognize the needs of our sick kababayan para naman lahat ng kanilang pangangailangan ay matutugunan ng ating PhilHealth at saka ng ating mga facilities kagaya nitong NKTI,” he said.

Real Stories, Real Impact

The President also visited patients at the NKTI wards, including young children recovering from transplants. One of them, Kehn Zachary Aquino, personally handed a handwritten letter to the President, thanking him for the medical support he received through PhilHealth.

“Maraming salamat po sa inyo mahal na Pangulo sa libreng gamot at laboratory (tests), dahil po dito, mas makaka-focus po ang aking mga magulang sa ibang pangangailangan, lalo na ang edukasyon,” the young Aquino wrote.

Another patient, Christian Karl Jarse, also benefited from the expanded transplant coverage. After facing several challenges in securing medical assistance, his family finally found relief.

“Sobrang nakakagaan po ng loob. Malaking tulong po talaga sa amin ‘yun (benefit package),” he said.

A Welcome Support for Families

PhilHealth’s expanded benefits for kidney patients offer much-needed support for families. Earlier this year, the agency also increased coverage for hemodialysis sessions, raised its Z Benefit package for peritoneal dialysis, and enhanced its Z package for kidney transplantation.

Through these reforms, the government hopes to strengthen universal healthcare in the country and ensure that every Filipino—especially those facing life-altering illnesses—has access to the care they need.