Senator Hontiveros encouraged PhilHealth to continue free dialysis program
Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday encouraged the PhilHealth (Philippine Health Insurance Corp.) to continue with its free dialysis program to its members as soon as possible.
In a statement, Hontiveros said that she urgently appealed to PhilHealth to expedite the process of upgrading and reviewing the benefit package for dialysis in order to sufficiently meet the needs of patients.
“Their lives depend on your swift action. They have long appealed for this. Especially during this pandemic, the benefits they give are not sufficient”, Hontiveros said.
READ ALSO: PhilHealth’s Pending Payment Would Help PRC Mobilize Relief Ops In Typhoon-Hit Areas, Says Gordon
PhilHealth spokesperson Rey Baleña reportedly said the PhilHealth was meeting with stakeholders about the ongoing issue.
However, Hontiveros said that she hoped PhilHealth would expedite the processes for the sake of the poor patients who relied on the government’s free dialysis programs.
Hontiveros lamented that it was unjust to have dialysis patients cough up PHP 12,000 a week at a time when there were a lot of people who lost their jobs.
“Even if push comes to shove, especially if funds are limited, we must find ways to fund these life-saving services. Let’s not make these dialysis patients as sacrificial lambs”, Hontiveros added.
Meanwhile, Senator Richard Gordon said that PhilHealth’s pending payment would help the Philippine Red Cross mobilize more relief operations in typhoon-hit areas.
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