North South Jorunal news team 
Executive Vice President Eli Santos of PhilHealth, a state-run organization, announced on Tuesday that the organization intends to increase the dialysis patient subsidy from P2,600 to P5,200 each session.
Santos revealed the news alongside House Deputy Majority Leader Erwin Tulfo, a congressman from the ACT-CIS party list who has been demanding more PhilHealth benefits.
We have one month to apply for PhilHealth, which will examine the possibility of raising coverage to P5,200. Our patients’ financial independence is our main priority.
According to Tulfo, the existing subsidy scarcely covers the vials that dialysis patients require injections.
Since dialysis facilities don’t always have these shots (vials), the patients enlist the aid of numerous people [to pay for them]. They go to senators, mayors, and congressmen. The P2,600 covers these vials, but some dialysis facilities do not have them, so patients search elsewhere, the senator claimed.
To address this issue, PhilHealth will increase the [subsidy] amount for the dialysis package by twofold, from P2,600 to P5,200. This would prevent patients—especially those who receive dialysis three times a week—from having to pay a cash-out fee. PhilHealth stated they may work on the mechanics for a month. He said, “Kakayanin naman raw (they said it can be done).”
