BOCAUE, Bulacan — CIBAC Party-list Rep. Bro. Eddie Villanueva has renewed his call for the establishment of dialysis centers in all national, regional, and provincial hospitals as the nation observed World Health Day yesterday (April 7).

In a message sent to media, Villanueva, who hails from Bocaue, said he reiterated his call to ensure accessible and free dialysis treatment for indigent patients.

The Bulakeño Party-list representative earlier filed House Bill No. 7148, which mandates the Department of Health (DOH), in coordination with local government units and PhilHealth, to expand hospital-based dialysis facilities and guarantee free treatment for indigent patients.

Citing data from PhilHealth as of February this year, Villanueva said there are 834 accredited dialysis clinics nationwide, 797 of which are privately operated and only 37 government-owned.

He noted that the majority of these, or 521, are concentrated in Mega Manila, showing an imbalance in access to life-saving treatment. The limited availability of dialysis clinics in rural regions remains a major challenge for the country’s healthcare system.

Villanueva also pointed out that experts estimate at least 13 million Filipinos are affected by various stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD), further underscoring the urgent need to expand accessible and affordable care.

“Health care should heal, not impoverish. When a patient must spend close to—or even more than—a million pesos a year just to survive, that is no longer just a medical concern—it is a moral issue and a test of our commitment to justice and compassion,” Villanueva emphasized.

📷 CIBAC Party-list