TACLOBAN CITY – For a family earning PHP200 daily from selling food, it would be impossible to afford dialysis treatment without full government coverage.
This is the reality for Jimmy Ebajo, 40, a resident of Larrazabal village in Naval, Biliran, who requires dialysis twice a week due to chronic kidney disease caused by untreated high creatinine levels.
For the past 11 months, he has traveled three hours to receive dialysis at the Eastern Visayas Medical Center (EVMC) in Tacloban, accompanied by his wife, Jessa, 35.
“Since there are no available slots at the Biliran Provincial Hospital, we must travel three hours from Naval to Tacloban twice a week. The journey is difficult, but we are grateful that the treatment is fully covered,” Jessa said.
Jessa earns PHP200 a day selling banana cues in Naval. The family’s income dropped significantly after Jimmy’s illness forced him to quit his job as a tricycle driver last year.
“Without government assistance, my husband wouldn’t be able to receive treatment. The benefit has eased our financial burden and improved our access to healthcare,” she added.
The administration has significantly expanded health benefits through the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), enhancing public healthcare coverage.
Under the new policy, PhilHealth has increased benefits for chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 5 patients, raising the maximum hemodialysis sessions from 90 to 156 per year, valued at PHP990,600 at the new rate of PHP6,350 per session, up from PHP4,000.
Coverage for peritoneal dialysis has also increased to PHP1.2 million, and kidney transplantation support under the Z benefits package has risen from PHP600,000 to PHP2 million.
PhilHealth’s expanded coverage now includes essential support such as medications for anemia and anticoagulation, lab tests, medical supplies, and administrative costs, ensuring patients receive comprehensive care without financial strain.
The Biliran provincial government covers the transportation costs for the Ebajo family’s trips from Naval to Tacloban.
The head of the EVMC Internal Medicine Department noted a rising number of CKD stage 5 patients due to increasing renal failure cases. The center has expanded to 30 dialysis machines, doubling its capacity since 2018.
“From January to June 2025, our center provided 7,890 hemodialysis sessions, up from 5,536 in the same period last year, largely due to untreated diabetes and hypertension,” the doctor explained.
In the first half of the year, EVMC treated 734 CKD outpatients and admitted 443 others.
The head of the EVMC dialysis center stated that the hospital serves patients not only from Leyte but also from five other provinces in the region.
“We hope to see more dialysis centers in the province. Even though treatment is free, many patients cannot afford the travel expenses,” the doctor said.
Medical experts urge the public to prioritize kidney health, as while CKD can be managed, it has no complete cure through medication alone.
To prevent kidney disease, doctors recommend early consultation, a healthy diet, regular hydration, and physical activity.
