The National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) is a government-owned specialty hospital in the Philippines dedicated to treating kidney diseases and providing organ transplant services. Beyond medical care, NKTI offers various assistance and support programs—including financial aid, patient counseling, dialysis support, transplant preparation, and post-transplant care—especially for indigent and vulnerable patients. These programs exist because kidney disease is life-threatening, long-term treatment is costly, and every Filipino deserves access to quality care regardless of income. Knowing about these programs is important so that patients and families can make informed decisions, access the help they need, and improve their chances of recovery and survival.
To help you learn more about the assistance and support programs available at NKTI, we created this list for you.
List of NKTI Assistance and Support Programs
The NKTI, along with its various partner agencies, offers a wide range of programs to support kidney patients and their families. These programs cover social support, financial aid, medical services, education, and holistic care to ensure comprehensive assistance for those affected by kidney diseases.
- Social and Emotional Support Services: These programs provide counseling, spiritual care, and social work assistance to help patients and families cope with the emotional and psychological challenges of kidney illness. They also strengthen social support networks and offer grief and bereavement support.
- Financial Assistance Programs: Designed to ease the financial burden of treatment, these programs provide emergency aid, help with medical expenses, and facilitate access to government subsidies. They aim to support low-income and indigent patients during critical health situations.
- Medical and Rehabilitation Services: These programs offer specialized medical treatments, rehabilitation therapies, and quick response systems for kidney patients. They focus on restoring health, managing disabilities, and providing timely care to improve patients’ quality of life.
- Education, Training, and Awareness Programs: Focused on educating patients, families, and healthcare professionals, these programs promote knowledge on kidney disease management, research, and preventive health. Public forums and training initiatives help build skills and awareness in kidney care.
Together, these programs form a comprehensive network of support for kidney patients—from emotional and spiritual care to financial aid, medical treatment, and education.
Below is the detailed list of these programs with their descriptions, purposes, and features.
1. Medical Social Service Assistance
Provider: NKTI Medical Social Service Division (MSSD)
The MSSD provides social work services to patients and families facing challenges related to chronic illnesses, especially kidney and organ-related diseases. It helps patients cope with emotional, psychological, and financial stress during treatment. Services include counseling, referrals, palliative care, and support programs.
Purpose: To assist patients and their families in overcoming psycho-social and financial difficulties caused by illness or hospitalization.
Features and benefits:
- Offers social assessments and counseling (individual, family, and group)
- Connects patients to government and community support services
- Provides grief, bereavement, and palliative care
- Helps strengthen patients’ social support systems
- Special focus on financially challenged renal and transplant patients
- Open Monday to Saturday (8:00 AM–5:00 PM) and Sunday (8:00 AM–12:00 NN)
- Located near NKTI’s Outpatient Waiting Area
2. Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS)
Provider: Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
The AICS program gives emergency financial aid to people facing serious personal or family crises. This includes help with medical, funeral, education, or transportation costs. Recently, it provided ₱10,000 each to 160 indigent patients at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI).
Purpose: To help individuals and families recover from unexpected life crises such as illness, death, or disasters.
Features and benefits:
- Financial aid up to ₱10,000 for eligible beneficiaries
- Covers medical, burial, educational, and transportation needs
- Quick response to urgent personal or family emergencies
- Over 5 million people assisted in 2022
- Acts as a safety net for vulnerable and low-income individuals
3. NKTI Malasakit Center Assistance Programs
Provider: NKTI – Malasakit Center
The NKTI Malasakit Center is a one-stop help desk that connects patients to government healthcare and financial aid services. It assists patients and their families, especially those facing health, emotional, and financial struggles. The center works closely with agencies like DSWD, DOH, PCSO, and PhilHealth.
Purpose: To provide faster and easier access to government medical and financial assistance for NKTI patients.
Features and benefits:
- One-stop shop for government health services
- Operates Monday to Friday, 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Located near the Out-Patient waiting area
- Helps with financial aid and social services
- Supports dialysis patients, organ donors/recipients, and indigent patients
- Offers counseling, palliative care, and grief support
- Handled by NKTI’s Medical Social Service Division
4. CKD Education and Counselling Program
Provider: CKD Clinic
This program helps people recently diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) understand their condition. It offers guidance on treatment options, proper diet, financial matters, and how to involve family in the care process. Support is provided through counseling sessions available on weekdays.
Purpose: To educate and support CKD patients in managing their illness and improving their quality of life.
Features and benefits:
- One-on-one counseling sessions
- Advice on treatment plans and medication
- Nutrition and diet guidance
- Financial planning support
- Family involvement and emotional support
- Available Monday to Friday, 10 AM to 6 PM
5. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Program
Provider: NKTI – Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Section
This program provides rehabilitation services for patients with physical, neurological, or speech-related conditions. It includes consultations, therapy sessions, and special rehabilitation programs. Services are tailored to help patients recover, regain strength, and return to daily life.
Purpose: To help patients restore physical function, manage disabilities, and improve quality of life through therapy and rehabilitation.
Features and benefits:
- Psychiatric consultations (in-person or teleconsultation)
- Physical therapy: post-surgery rehab, cardio-pulmonary recovery, transplant recovery, strength training
- Occupational therapy: training for daily tasks, work skills, and fine motor improvement
- Speech therapy: management of swallowing, language, and voice disorders
- Special services:
- Renal rehabilitation for dialysis patients
- EMG-NCV tests to diagnose nerve and muscle conditions
- Telemedicine for remote consultations and therapy
- Provision of aids like wheelchairs, splints, supports
- Training programs for PT, OT, and speech interns and professionals
6. Education, Training and Research Services (ETRS)
Provider: NKTI
ETRS is NKTI’s training and research arm. It provides education programs for medical and allied health professionals. The goal is to strengthen healthcare through quality learning and innovation.
Purpose: To support NKTI’s mission by developing skilled healthcare workers and advancing research in renal care and transplantation.
Features and benefits:
- Medical Training Division for doctors
- Allied Health Training for nurses and other healthcare staff
- Personnel Development programs for NKTI employees
- Clinical trials and research projects
- Promotes continuous learning and professional growth
- Contributes to high standards in kidney and transplant care
7. DOH-Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (DOH-MAIFIP)
Provider: Department of Health (DOH)
This program offers financial help to patients who can’t afford medical care. It covers hospital bills, medicines, and other treatment-related expenses. Support is available in government hospitals like the NKTI and in other DOH-retained facilities.
Purpose: To make healthcare more accessible for low-income and financially struggling Filipinos.
Features and benefits:
- Covers hospital charges and professional fees
- Assistance for medicines, diagnostics, and surgeries
- Available in public hospitals and selected health centers
- Helps reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses
- Prioritizes indigent and low-income patients
8. NKTI Bilis Aksyon Partner
Provider: NKTI
This program offers quick medical and financial help for patients in urgent need of kidney treatment. It connects patients to support services faster, especially in emergency cases. The goal is to provide immediate assistance without complicated processes.
Purpose: To give fast and accessible support to kidney patients during critical situations.
Features and benefits:
- Quick-response medical assistance
- Priority access to NKTI services
- Simplified referral and coordination system
- Emergency financial help
- Faster processing for urgent kidney care cases
9. World Kidney Day Lay Forum
Provider: AFP Health Service Command (AFPHSC) and NKTI
The AFPHSC and NKTI teamed up to hold a health forum in celebration of World Kidney Day. The event focused on educating military personnel about kidney disease and prevention. It was held at the AFP General Headquarters and featured talks by kidney specialists from NKTI.
Purpose: To raise awareness about kidney health, promote disease prevention, and prepare AFP personnel to manage health risks.
Features and benefits:
- Educational lectures on Chronic Kidney Disease
- Discussion of the “8 Golden Rules” for kidney health
- Interactive Q&A with NKTI nephrology fellows
- Promotes readiness and wellness among AFP personnel
- Supports AFP’s health protection and awareness initiatives
10. Pastoral Care
Provider: National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI)
NKTI’s Pastoral Care offers spiritual and emotional support to patients, their families, and staff. It recognizes that healing includes mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being, not just physical health. Chaplains and CPE students provide counseling and a listening presence as part of NKTI’s holistic care approach.
Purpose: To provide compassionate spiritual and emotional support that complements medical care.
Features and benefits:
- Led by trained chaplains as part of the hospital’s care team
- Offers spiritual counseling and emotional support
- Supports patients, families, and hospital staff
- Involves Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) students in service
- Promotes healing through a holistic, patient-centered approach
- Reinforces NKTI’s commitment to compassionate care
11. Lifetime Dialysis Support
Provider: National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI)
NKTI has proposed a plan to give lifetime dialysis and immunosuppressive treatment support for kidney patients. They recommend that PhilHealth cover these long-term medical costs. The idea is currently being reviewed by lawmakers and government agencies.
Purpose: To provide continuous financial and medical support to dialysis patients in the Philippines.
Features and benefits:
- Proposed lifetime coverage of dialysis sessions
- Includes immunosuppressive therapy for life
- Backed by PhilHealth, subject to funding
- Lawmakers push for all government hospitals to have dialysis centers within 5 years
- Supported by the Department of Health
- Budget Department to review costs and feasibility
- Aims to ease financial burden on patients and their families
Video: NKTI Pre-Transplant Orientation
The National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) is a leading hospital in the Philippines that helps people with kidney problems and those who need an organ transplant. It offers affordable and advanced treatments, with a team of skilled doctors, modern equipment, and strong patient support.
If you or someone you know is preparing for a transplant, this video shows what to expect during NKTI’s pre-transplant orientation:
Contact Information
For other questions or concerns, you may reach out to:
National Kidney & Transplant Institute
- Address: East Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines
- Phone: (63) (2) 8981-0300, 8981-0400, +639292222336 (viber)
- Email: pro@nkti.gov.ph
- Emergency Room: (63) (2) 8981-0300, 8981-0400 local 1430/1431