THE Negrense Dialysis Group in Negros Occidental is seeking the assistance of President Rodrigo Duterte to encourage the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) officials to increase the coverage of kidney patients from 90 to 104 sessions per year.
Gregorio Gustilo Jr., a hemodialysis patient and president of the Negrense Dialysis Group, said Tuesday, March 5, they need the help of Duterte to encourage the PhilHealth officials to increase the coverage of kidney patients undergoing hemodialysis in various dialysis treatment centers in Bacolod City.
“We organized and initiated this move to seek the President’s help in behalf of all dialysis patients. The increased number of sessions will alleviate the financial burdens of our families, especially that each dialysis could reach up to P4, 000 to be paid in cash,” he said.
He added that their PhilHealth assistance of 90 sessions per year and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) assistance of P20, 000 per quarter are fully consumed.
Gustilo noted that a dialysis patient undergoes at least two sessions per week thus, the 90 sessions per year is not substantial and the remaining 14 sessions is shouldered by the patient.
“We are appealing to the President because our family budget and way of living are greatly affected especially the future and education of our children. Most of the dialysis patients are having hard time pooling their resources to pay the uncovered sessions. We cannot depend solely on the PCSO’s assistance because of its long and arduous processing, entailing a hard situation to the patient suffering and sometimes death,” Gustilo said.
He said they are hopeful that President Duterte will consider their request to increase the coverage of kidney patients undergoing hemodialysis from PhilHealth.
He added that they will give their letter to President Duterte on Friday, March 8 who will be arriving here for the distribution of the Certificate of Land Ownership Awards and campaign sorties of Partido Demokratiko Pilpino- Lakas ng Bayan.