President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the immediate completion of the 13-storey Legacy Building of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI), which is expected to become the largest dialysis center in Southeast Asia.
Marcos issued the directive on Friday during an inspection of the ongoing construction of the hemodialysis facility along Elliptical Road in Diliman, Quezon City.
Once completed, the facility is targeted to begin operations by early 2028, with full completion expected in 2027. It will house around 200 hemodialysis machines intended to serve both indigent and private patients from Metro Manila and nearby provinces, including those with complex and emergency renal conditions.
The President said kidney disease remains a major public health concern, noting that about 11 percent of Filipinos are affected, underscoring the need to expand treatment capacity nationwide.
“Sana mabawasan natin ang chronic kidney disease, pero hangga’t mangyari ’yun ay nagpapatayo tayo ng mga ospital para maserbisyuhan ang ating mga pasyente,” Marcos said.
He also cited the country’s 904 accredited dialysis centers, adding that the new NKTI facility is expected to significantly expand access once operational.
Marcos said the government is also strengthening financial support for patients, noting that PhilHealth has increased its Z Benefit Package for peritoneal dialysis to as much as P500,140 annually for adults and up to P1.2 million for pediatric patients.
Beyond treatment expansion, the President said the government is also pursuing preventive measures to reduce the incidence of chronic kidney disease.
“We are also looking at how to prevent chronic kidney disease so our countrymen can avoid it,” he said.
The President was accompanied during the inspection by Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, and NKTI Executive Director Dr. Jose Dante Dator.