Marcos launches PhilHealth's Z Benefits Package for post-kidney transplant services

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. visited dialysis patients with chronic kidney disease at the National Kidney Transplant Institute in Quezon City on Thursday and launched PhilHealth's new 'Z Benefits Package for Post-Kidney Transplantation Services', which includes increased coverage to 156 hemodialysis sessions per year.

The comprehensive package aims to lessen financial burdens, improve long-term health outcomes, and advance equitable access to quality healthcare for both adult and pediatric patients with stage 5 chronic kidney disease who have undergone kidney transplants.

PhilHealth now covers additional hemodialysis sessions (156 annually) and raised the benefit amount for kidney transplants from PHP600,000 to PHP2.1 million per transplant; living kidney donors will receive PHP1,900 every six months for laboratory testing and monitoring.

Pediatric patients are entitled to receive P73,065 per month for immunosuppressive medications for the first year, while adult patients get P40,725 per month for similar medications. Dialysis coverage has also been raised to nearly PHP1 million per patient.

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa acknowledged the growing number of chronic kidney disease cases in the country, particularly among children, and emphasized the need for lifestyle changes and primary care prevention.

PhilHealth President Edwin M. Mercado expects to allocate as much as P300 billion for benefit packages this year, including expanded coverage for kidney transplant patients.