Lawmaker pushes bill seeking free dialysis for all senior citizens
MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker filed a bill seeking to fully reimburse all the dialysis sessions needed by senior citizens conducted in accredited hospitals or free-standing dialysis centers through the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or PhilHealth.
In a statement released Wednesday, Sen. Risa Hontiveros disclosed that she had filed Senate Bill No. 2053 or the Free Dialysis for Senior Citizens Act of 2021 to remove all costs for the complete 144 dialysis sessions needed by senior citizens with kidney diseases amid widespread unemployment under the coronavirus-induced community quarantines.
"Dialysis has become the lifeline for so many of our senior citizens. It is already difficult to grow old, but it gets doubly harder for senior citizens who need to pay for dialysis. We should help ease the burden," she said in her statement.
According to the country's 2015 Census of Population and Housing, there are about 7.5 million senior citizens, defined by the country’s laws as persons aged over 60, in the Philippines.
The Philippine Statistics Authority also estimates that the sector will grow by 15.9% by 2045 while a 2017 report by the United Nations projects that the Philippines' elderly population will swell to 15 million by 2050.
Hontiveros in her statement said that the financial burden caused by the coronavirus pandemic only worsened and exposed the financial and physical vulnerabilities of senior citizens. Currently, PhilHealth covers 90 dialysis sessions, but Hontiveros said her bill hopes to cover the complete 144 sessions needed for a complete year of treatment.
Our grandparents are one of the most vulnerable groups in this pandemic. They only receive P500 per month in their social pension, and those who are able to work, will not be able to leave due to health restrictions. How do we expect them to afford the extra P135,000 needed to complete their sessions? That is a massive financial obligation. It is simply unjust," she said.
"Let us also remember that they and their families do not only pay for dialysis. We also have an economic crisis, and, as it is, it is very difficult for Filipino families to buy food. What are senior citizens to do? They also have the right to be healthy. Let's not leave them alone," she said.
Under the quarantine guidelines set by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases, anyone below and above 15-65 years old, or those with immunodeficiency, comorbidities or other health risks, along with pregnant women are required to stay at home at all times during the quarantine period.
Hontiveros also highlighted that kidney disease remains the 7th leading cause of death among Filipinos according to the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, which she says makes it all the more urgent to pass the bill as soon as possible to make life easier for those with kidney disease.
"Kidney disease is one of the killer sicknesses in the country. I hope this will be a foot in the door to finally expanding the coverage and permanently increasing the number of dialysis sessions we can give our people to give them the chance to still live their lives," she said.
"Just because they're old doesn't mean we drive away our grandfathers and grandmothers. After all they have done for us, this is a small thing. Let's give them a little care and their health," the senator said.
— Franco Luna
- Latest
- Trending
