Senator Camille Villar is doubling down on her commitment to affordable and accessible healthcare with the filing of the Dialysis Center Act, a landmark measure that requires all national, regional, and provincial government hospitals to establish dialysis wards and provide free treatment for indigent patients. The youngest senator of the 20th congress recently led the inauguration of new CT Scan and MRI machines as well as a connecting bridge at the Las Piñas General Hospital and Satellite Trauma Center.
Villar, who serves as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography emphasized that both initiatives are part of her vision to bring essential health services closer to the people and ensure that no Filipino is left behind.
Data shows that one Filipino dies every hour due to kidney failure, with cases rising by about 15 percent annually. Dialysis sessions cost between 2,000 -4,500 Pesos each, with patients undergoing average three per week, amounting to over 13,000 weekly —- a burden far beyond the means of minimum wage earners.
“Healthcare is a right, not a privilege. For our kababayans battling kidney disease, dialysis should not be out of reach. This bill ensures that no one is left behind, especially those in need,” Villar said.
Under the proposed law, all government hospitals will be mandated to establish dialysis units within two years, with free treatment guaranteed for indigent patients as determined by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
At the same time, the millennial senator underscored her commitment to strengthening hospital capacity during the inauguration of the new facilities at the Las Piñas General Hospital—a project she described as part of her family’s continuing passion for improving public health services.
She emphasized that the state-of-the-art equipment will make diagnoses faster, treatments more precise, and services more efficient for patients in Las Piñas and neighboring communities.
Villar concluded that these initiatives reflect her broader healthcare agenda—combining legislation and infrastructure to build a more compassionate and inclusive system.
“This is only the beginning. I am committed to pursuing more reforms that will make healthcare a true pillar of national well-being. Every Filipino deserves a fair chance at life, regardless of income or social status,” she declared. ###
