Quezon city: The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) has accredited De Los Santos Medical Center (DLSMC) in Quezon City as the first hospital in Metro Manila to offer its new Post-Kidney Transplant Z-Benefit Program, providing expanded coverage for the lifelong care needs of kidney transplant recipients.
According to Philippines News Agency, the accreditation was formalized during the launch of the program at the hospital, which aims to reduce patients' out-of-pocket expenses for post-transplant medicines, monitoring, diagnostics, and consultations. PhilHealth Senior Vice President for Fund Management Sector Renato Limsiaco Jr. emphasized that the program supports President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s goal of expanding access to quality health care.
"Today's event is more than the launch of the new service, the new packages. It is a message of hope. It gives patients and their families the assurance that they will continue to receive the care they need after a successful kidney transplant," Limsiaco stated. The package covers essential post-transplant services, including immunosuppressive medicines, drug prophylaxis, drug level monitoring, routine laboratory and diagnostic tests, renal graft biopsy when indicated, follow-up consultations, and living donor monitoring.
Limsiaco highlighted that chronic kidney disease remains a major health concern in the country, affecting patients' livelihoods and financial stability. He mentioned that PhilHealth continues to strengthen its social health insurance programs to alleviate financial burdens for Filipinos.
De Los Santos Medical Center Chief Medical Officer Dr. Nilo de los Santos noted that the program addresses the growing need for sustained post-transplant care. "Data from the National Kidney Transplant Institute and the Department of Health show that over 12,000 Filipinos develop end-stage renal disease each year. We estimate that 50% to 60% of these patients are eligible for kidney transplantation," de los Santos said. He stressed that the program will help ease the financial burden of lifelong maintenance care, allowing patients and families to focus on recovery and quality of life.
The hospital has performed 187 kidney transplants since its first procedure in 2010. In 2016, it became the first Level 3 hospital in its locality to offer the PhilHealth Z-Benefit package for kidney transplant surgery, benefiting 108 patients. Under the new post-transplant package, the hospital's 187 past transplant recipients are now eligible for expanded continuing care.
DOH-Metro Manila Center for Health Development Management Officer Dr. Jose Mari Castro remarked that the partnership between PhilHealth and the private sector supports the goals of the Universal Health Care Act. "Our collective mission is to ensure that every transplant recipient continues to receive comprehensive post-transplant care without the burden of overwhelming health care costs," Castro said.
DLSMC Kidney Transplant Unit Head Dr. Arwin Ronan Ronsayro emphasized that proper post-transplant management is essential to improving long-term outcomes, preventing organ rejection, and increasing patient survival. He also noted that sustained access to medicines, diagnostic tests, and regular consultations requires stronger collaboration among health institutions and efficient use of PhilHealth benefits.
