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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
House Bill No. __________ 
Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative 
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN III 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The majority of morbidity and mortality in the Philippines has been caused by Non-
Communicable Diseases such as Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). According to the 
American Journal of Kidney Diseases in 2016, the prevalence of CKD in Asian countries 
had been reported to be among the highest in the world.1  The Philippines has seen 
an increase of dialysis cases of about 400% in the past 10 years.2 As of 2018, it is 
estimated that the number of cases of kidney diseases is increasing at a rate of 10 to 
15 percent each year.3 
CKD has also been found more common in the elderly as kidney function declines with 
age. According to the Johns Hopkins University, kidney disease is more prevalent 
among those over the age of 60.4 The treatment for kidney disease is costly, beyond 
the capability of ordinary senior citizens who rely on their social pension of Php 500.00 
for daily sustenance.5  
1 American Journal of Kidney Diseases. Dialysis Care and Dialysis Funding in Asia. Information retrieved from 
https://www.ajkd.org/article/S0272-6386(19)30940-0/fulltext. Dated November 5, 2019 
2 Ibid. 
3 Philippine News Agency. ARQCapital boosts bid to set up more dialysis centers in PH. Information retrieved from 
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1086669. Dated November 21, 2019 
4 National Kidney Foundation. Aging and Kidney Disease. Information retrieved from 
https://www.kidney.org/news/monthly/wkd_aging 
5 Republic Act No. 7432 
November 24, 2021
3:49 pm
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With an average cost of Php 4,500.00 per session of hemodialysis, a patient with 
kidney disease usually needs dialysis thrice a week for a total of 144 sessions per year 
amounting to PhP 648,000.00.6 The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation 
(PhilHealth), in its effort to mitigate the exorbitant costs of dialysis, issued Circular No. 
22, Series of 2015 to raise the hemodialysis coverage. Members with kidney disease 
are entitled to 90 dialysis sessions per year.7 It is insufficient, however, as patients 
need to still cover the remaining 54 out of the 144-session as out-of-pocket expenses 
which amount to an average of PhP 243,000.00. 
In this light, this proposed measure seeks to alleviate the financial burden of senior 
citizens suffering from kidney disease. It seeks to provide free hemodialysis, peritoneal 
dialysis, and other approved dialysis procedures by the Department of Health. The 
costs shall be fully reimbursed by PhilHealth if the treatment is availed at PhilHealth-
accredited hospitals or free-standing dialysis centers. Through this measure, it is 
hoped that senior citizens suffering from kidney disease will be supported to improve 
their health and prolong their lives. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this measure is earnestly sought. 
MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN III 
Representative 
Magdalo Para Sa Pilipino Party-List 
6 Inquirer. ‘Even with PhilHealth coverage, free dialysis not enough’. Information retrieved from 
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1127290/even-with-philhealth-coverage-free-dialysis-not-enough. Dated June 6, 2019 
7 PhilHealth. Circular No. 22-2015. Information retrieved from https://www.philhealth.gov.ph/circulars/2015/TS_circ022-
2015.pdf 


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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
House Bill No. __________ 
Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative 
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN III 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FREE HEMODIALYSIS, PERITONEAL DIALYSIS, AND OTHER 
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH APPROVED DIALYSIS PROCEDURES TO ALL 
SENIOR CITIZENS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title.– This Act shall be known as the “Free Dialysis for Senior 
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Citizens Act”. 
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy.– It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
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adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall 
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endeavor to make essential goods, health, and other social services available to all at 
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affordable cost. It shall prioritize the needs of the underprivileged sick, elderly, 
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disabled, women, and children.  Towards this end, the State shall alleviate the financial 
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burden of senior citizens by providing free medical care and assistance to greatly 
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prolong their lives. 
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Sec. 3. Free Dialysis for All Senior Citizens.– The cost of all the needed 
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hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and other Department of Health (DOH) approved 
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dialysis procedure shall be fully reimbursed by the Philippine Health Insurance 
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Corporation (PhilHealth), Provided, That such treatment is availed of at PHIC 
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accredited hospitals or free-standing dialysis centers. Provided further, That only those 
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procedures which use the dialysis solutions included in the latest edition of the 
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Philippine National Drug Formulary (PNDF) shall be reimbursed by PhilHealth. Provided 
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finally, That only laboratory procedures and supplies considered necessary shall be 
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covered by the PhilHealth. 
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Sec. 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations.– Within thirty (30) days from the 
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approval of this Act, the Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance 
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Corporation, and the National Commission on Senior Citizens (NCSC), in coordination 
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with other implementing agencies, shall formulate rules and guidelines as may be 
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necessary for the proper implementation and enforcement of this Act. 
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Sec. 5. Appropriations.– The amount needed for the initial implementation of 
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this Act shall be taken from the current year’s appropriations of the DOH and the 
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PhilHealth. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for its continued 
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implementation shall be included in the annual General Appropriations. 
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Sec. 6. Separability Clause.— If any portion or provision of this Act is declared 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provisions not affected thereby shall 
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remain in force and effect.  
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Sec. 7. Repealing Clause.— Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, rule or regulation inconsistent with the provisions of this 
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Act is hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
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Sec. 8. Effectivity.— This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its 
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complete publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation. 
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Approved,