NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s. No. 2234
of t\)f
23 MAY 23 P5 ‘46
RHCEiVcD IL'.
Introduced by Senator MANUEL "LITO" M. LAPID
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR FREE HEMODIALYSIS, PERITONEAL DIALYSIS, AND 
OTHER DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH APPROVED DIALYSIS PROCEDURES
TO ALL SENIOR CITIZENS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
In the Philippines, the need to access dialysis has increased by 400% in the 
past 10 years with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) becoming one of the leading causes 
of death among Filipino senior citizens.
With all the risk and death associated with kidney disease, what is truly 
saddening is that these risks are avoidable and these deaths are preventable with 
proper access to treatment such as, hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and other 
Department of Health C'DOH'O approved dialysis procedures.
Unfortunately, what could have been an avoidable risk and a preventable death 
are not avoided and prevented because the dialysis sessions that are subsidized by 
the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation C'PhilHealth") under PhilHealth Circular 
No. 22-2015 is only 90 out of the needed 144 dialysis sessions. This means that senior 
citizens who are at high risk of developing serious complications and becoming a 
fatality due to kidney disease are still required to pay for the remaining 54 sessions. 
Thus, for our senior citizens with kidney disease to survive, they need a total of PhP 
135,000 per year.


The senior citizens of our country are facing significant economic hardships. 
Many retired individuals find it difficult to cover their basic needs, including healthcare 
expenses. As our elderly population grows, it becomes increasingly crucial to develop 
programs that address their specific healthcare requirements.
Free dialysis services would ensure that senior citizens have access to the life- 
sustaining treatment they need. This initiative would help prevent unnecessary 
suffering and premature deaths among elderly individuals suffering from CKD.
The high cost of dialysis treatments also often forces senior citizens to choose 
between their health and meeting their basic needs. Providing free dialysis services 
would ease their financial burden, allowing them to allocate their limited resources to 
other essential expenses like food, shelter, and medication.
Dialysis treatments are time-consuming and can take a toll on a person's 
physical and emotional well-being. By eliminating the financial burden associated with 
dialysis, senior citizens would experience an improvement in their quality of life. They 
would have the opportunity to focus on their health and engage in activities that bring 
them joy and fulfillment.
Finally, regular dialysis treatments are crucial to preventing complications 
associated with kidney failure. By providing free dialysis services, we can help senior 
citizens manage their condition effectively, reducing the likelihood of hospitalizations 
and emergency medical interventions. This, in turn, would result in substantial cost 
savings for both individuals and the healthcare system.
Ensuring that senior citizens have access to free dialysis services sends a 
powerful message of social inclusion and respect for the elderly population. It 
acknowledges their contributions to society and recognizes their right to age with 
dignity, regardless of their financial circumstances.
Thus, this bill seeks to provide free hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and other 
DOFI-approved dialysis procedures to all senior citizens. By providing free dialysis 
services to senior citizens, this bill aims to alleviate the economic burden on this 
vulnerable group.
2


In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly requested.
:L "LITO" M. LAPID
Senator


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 2234
23 HRY23 P5:46
RECEIVED BV
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
1 
AN ACT
2 
PROVIDING FOR FREE HEMODIALYSIS, PERITONEAL DIALYSIS, AND
3 
OTHER DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH APPROVED DIALYSIS PROCEDURES
4 
TO ALL SENIOR CITIZENS
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled:
5 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Free Dialysis for
6 
Senior Citizens Act of 2023."
7 
SECTION 2. Free Dialysis Sessions for AH Senior Citizens. - The cost of the
8 
needed hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and other Department of Health ("DOH'O
9 
approved dialysis procedure shall be reimbursed by the Philippines Health Insurance
10 
Corporation ("PhilHealth"), provided such treatment is availed of at the PhilHealth
11 
accredited hospitals and freestanding dialysis centers. Provided further, that only
12 
those procedures that use the dialysis solutions included in the latest edition of the
13 
Philippine National Drug Formulary C'PNDF") shall be reimbursed by the PhilHealth.
14 
Provided finally, that only laboratory procedures and supplies considered necessary
15 
shall be covered by the PhilHealth. PhilHealth shall as soon as possible reimburse all
16 
official receipts for drugs, supplies, and laboratory procedures dated thirty ("30") days
17 
prior to the date of the claimed session.
18 
SECTION 3. Appropriations. - The amount needed for the implementation of
19 
this Act shall be charged against the appropriations of the DOH and the PhilHealth in


1 
the current and subsequent General Appropriations Act and their own respective
2 
funds. Thereafter, the amount needed for the continued implementation of this Act
3 
shall be included in the budget of the concerned departments in the annual General
4 
Appropriations.
5 
SECTION 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within thirty (30) days
6 
from the approval of this Act, the DOH, the PhilHealth, and the National Commission
7 
on Senior Citizens (NCSC), in coordination with other implementing agencies, shall
8 
formulate rules and guidelines as may be necessary for the proper implementation
9 
and enforcement of this Act.
10 
SECTION 5. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any section or provision
11 
of this Act, or any portion thereof, or the application of such section, provision or
12 
portion, is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or the
13 
application of such section, provision, or portion thereof shall not be affected by such
14 
declaration.
15 
SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, letters of instructions,
16 
resolutions, orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with
17 
the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified accordingly or amended
18 
accordingly.
19 
SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
20 
from its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers
21 
of general circulation.
22 
Approved,