The Department of Health (DOH) has clarified that kidney transplant patients are entitled to lifetime financial support under PhilHealth’s newly expanded benefit packages.
Speaking in a DZMM Teleradyo interview on June 22, DOH Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Albert Domingo emphasized that the support is not limited to initial treatment alone. “’Yung mga post-kidney transplant for life… may forever na support ang PhilHealth,” he said.
The clarification comes after the rollout of PhilHealth’s upgraded assistance for patients with stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) who have undergone transplants. Under the new benefits, pediatric patients will receive more than P100,000 per month, while adult recipients are entitled to over P50,000 monthly to cover post-operation maintenance costs.
Living kidney donors are also now covered, with PhilHealth providing P1,900 worth of laboratory tests and treatments every six months.
Domingo described the expanded coverage as a “game changer,” noting that many patients previously avoided transplant procedures due to high monthly maintenance medication costs, which can reach P50,000. With PhilHealth stepping in to cover those expenses for life, he said the fear of long-term costs is significantly reduced.
The new package was officially launched on June 19 at the National Kidney Transplant Institute (NKTI) in Quezon City.
Despite receiving no allocation under the 2025 national budget, PhilHealth remains financially sound with nearly P755 billion in available resources, the DOH clarified.
Beyond kidney transplants, PhilHealth has also widened its coverage to include more comprehensive benefits for cancer patients, emergency outpatient services, and preventive oral healthcare.
