House also wants dialysis meds to be shouldered by Philhealth
HOUSE Speaker Martin Romualdez tasked PhilHealth to study if the agency can also cover or shoulder the expenses for the drug being used for dialysis of diabetic patients.
According to House Deputy Majority Floor leader Erwin Tulfo, this is what the legislators in Congress want to reduce or completely free the medicine of those with acute diabetes in the country.
“4.5 milyong Pilipino ang may diabetes at halos kalahati nito ang nagpapa-dialysis ng isa hanggang tatlong beses isang linggo”, Cong. Tulfo said.
The ACT-CIS Representative added, “umaabot kasi ng P900 hanggang P1,500 ang injection pagkatapos ng dialysis session ng isang pasyente”.
According to Tulfo, “may instruction si Speaker Romualdez na pag-aralan agad ng PhilHealth kung papaano malibre o sagutin na lang nila ang gamot, totally”.
It was learned that many dialysis patients have approached Romualdez to request that the medicine be made free or at least get a discount.
“Sabi ni Speaker sa kanila naiintindihan nya ang bigat ng gastusin sa halos araw-araw ng pagpapa-dialysis”, Tulfo said.
“The house leadership want to unload o bawasan itong pasanin sa pagpapa-dialysis”, according to the lawmaker.
Currently, PhilHealth covers the dialysis of its members, but the medicine is not included.
