Dialysis patients increased by 42% in 2023 from 2022

Experts have expressed concern over the number of Filipinos seeking dialysis procedures due to kidney failure. 

According to Maki Pulido’s report in "24 Oras," the number of dialysis patients in the country rose by 42%—from 25,125 in 2022 to 35,714 in 2023. 

The sudden rise in numbers may be attributed to the increase of people diagnosed with diabetes and hypertension, which are considered lifestyle diseases. 

“Diabetes and hypertension run in families so sometimes you have a family where two to three people have kidney failure and they're gonna be on dialysis,” said Romina Daguilan, National Kidney and Transplant Institute deputy executive director for medical services. 

“We’re eating too much sugary food, we're not paying attention to our blood sugar, we’re not compliant with blood pressure medication,” she added. 

But more than the physical discomfort brought by kidney failure, availing dialysis could be expensive. 

While the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) covers 156 dialysis sessions which cost P2,600 each, Gia Oliveros said that they still have to spend P30,000 a month for the medications of her child. 

So when she was also advised to undergo dialysis last December, Oliveros decided not to do so because of the costs. 

“Mga kamag-anak ko nagtutulong-tulong pero kung dadagdag pa ako nakakahiya na...sapat na siguro isa lang sa amin sa ang magpagamot,” she said. 

(My relatives have always been helping, but if I would include myself, that would be embarrassing…I think it’s enough that only one of us is undergoing dialysis.) 

Philhealth is now considering increasing its coverage of the dialysis package to P5,200 per session from the present P2,600.

The state health insurer is hoping to finish the study on the plan within a month. 

“Sa pag-aaral titingnan natin kung P5,200 nga ba ang kailangan o baka naman pwedeng lower,” said Philhealth Corporate Communications Department Senior Manager Rey Balena.

(In our study, we will see if P5,200 would be enough or if we could manage with lower than that.) 

If the proposal pushes through, this would be a big help to many dialysis patients like Marilou Castro Pentinio. 

“Hindi na kami mahirapan na kung saan saan hihingi ng tulong, di na kami pipila kung saan saan,” she said. 

(We would no longer have difficulty seeking help and we would no longer have to queue elsewhere.) 

For now, some medications could prevent or delay the necessity to undergo dialysis. 

“We have very good drugs now, they will control blood sugar and they will also protect the kidneys and the heart,” said Daguilan. “These drugs are effective and they are effective even at late stages of kidney disease so we can still delay dialysis by nine years. —Vince Ferreras/NB, GMA Integrated News