Senator Camille Villar is pushing for free dialysis for indigent patients through her proposed Dialysis Center Act, which mandates all government hospitals to set up dialysis wards within two years.
Villar, vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, said the measure aims to make life-saving treatment accessible to poor Filipinos.
Data show one Filipino dies every hour from kidney failure, with cases rising 15% annually.
Dialysis sessions cost P2,000–P4,500 each, with patients needing about three a week, far beyond the means of minimum wage earners.
“Healthcare is a right, not a privilege. For our kababayans battling kidney disease, dialysis should not be out of reach. This bill ensures that no one is left behind, especially those in need,” the senator said, adding that the Department of Social Welfare and Development will determine who qualifies for free sessions.IMT
