PhilHealth, LGUs urged to cover tests for kidney disease

The Philippine Society of Nephrology urges PhilHealth and local governments to pay for blood and urine tests to screen Filipinos with chronic kidney disease. (Photo by Tonette T. Orejas)

CLARK FREEPORT — The Philippine Society of Nephrology (PSN) has urged the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) and local government units to help increase Filipinos’ access to screening for chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Dr. Vimar Luz, head of the PSN’s World Kidney Day celebrations on March 14, called for the partnership because only less than 10 percent of Filipino adults had been diagnosed with CKD in 2021.

The screening through blood and urine tests is not yet available in PhilHealth packages, Luz said in the news forum KapiHann of the Pampanga Press Club at the Swissotel in this freeport on Wednesday.

READ: PhilHealth expands dialysis coverage to 144 sessions

Pampanga, which gives free screening for kidney care under the provincial government’s Alagang Nanay Preventive Health Program, would host the country’s World Kidney Day, according to Dr. Girlie Reoyan, PNS Central Luzon chapter president.

The theme is “Kidney health for all—advancing equitable access to care and optimal medication practice.”

Diabetes and hypertension are among the top causes of CKD, they said. INQ

READ: ‘Even with PhilHealth coverage, free dialysis not enough’