Local drugstore Mercury Drug Corp. plans to expand its free kidney screening program to 50 more branches, aiming to help more Filipinos avoid the devastating complications of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).
“We are expanding kidney screening to 50 branches to bring early screening of blood sugar, blood pressure, and kidney health through the Urine Albumin-to-Creatinine Ratio (UACR) test to more Filipinos,” said Corazon S. Lim, vice president of sales at Mercury Drug Corp., said Corazon S. Lim.
He made the announcement during the signing of an agreement with AstraZeneca Philippines and Diabetes Philippines, which serve as partners and equipment suppliers in the drugstore’s free kidney screening program.
The planned expansion will add to the four existing locations, launched in January, that offer free UACR tests, Dr. Reynaldo S. Rosales, treasurer of Diabetes Philippines, said. BusinessWorld. The UACR test detects early signs of kidney damage by identifying the presence of protein in the urine.
Other health screenings are also available at the sites, including blood pressure screening, random blood sugar screening, and body mass index (BMI) screening, which help identify risk factors associated with CKD.
Mr. Rosales said early detection of CKD is important because it is considered a chronic disease, symptoms usually appear only when the condition has reached advanced stages.
Early diagnosis of this disease can help families and governments avoid high costs of treatment, especially dialysis.
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) paid about P27 billion for more than two million hemodialysis claims in the first half of 2025.
When asked about the timeline for completing the expansion and where the additional test sites will be located, Mr. Rosales did not disclose details, saying that negotiations with the drug store are still ongoing to determine which branches will handle the inspection services.
“It’s a slow process. Hopefully, it will depend on Mercury Drug how we can grow,” said Mr. Rosales on the sidelines of the event.
As of this writing, free kidney screening is available at Mercury Drug Corporation branches located at Shangri-La Plaza and The Pavilion Mall in Mandaluyong City, Ayala Malls Trinoma in Quezon City, and Noveleta, Cavite.
About 1,000 patients a month are screened at each of the two Mercury Drug locations, helping to detect symptoms of kidney disease and heart disease and diabetes mellitus, said Mr. Rosales.
As of 2024, the partnership has screened about 44,000 patients, about 4% of whom tested positive for CKD, Mercury Drug previously said.
After the signing of the agreement, Mr. Rosales said that doctors will be available at four testing centers every Sunday. Patients may receive immediate medical advice and be recommended medication or other laboratory tests if necessary.
Mr. Rosales urged Filipinos – especially those at risk such as high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and people aged 60 and above – to be screened for CKD.
Meanwhile, Lotis Ramin, country president of AstraZeneca Philippines, said the program aims to challenge the country’s situation, where about 7 million Filipinos are estimated to be living with stage 3 CKD and above, while about 90% are still undiagnosed despite many cases.
“That’s why collaboration focused on early diagnosis is still very important, because this can change the trajectory and outcomes of these patients,” said Ms. Ramin in her speech.
THE EIGHT GOLDEN RULES OF KIDNEY CARE
To help prevent the development of kidney disease, Mr. Rosales emphasized the importance of following the “Eight Golden Rules of Kidney Care.”
This includes proper blood pressure control.
Mr. Rosales noted that a blood pressure level of 130/80 mmHg is better compared to the commonly cited limit of 140/90 mmHg.
He also pointed out the importance of controlling blood sugar levels, maintaining a balanced diet including vegetables and fruits, and setting aside time for regular exercise, even simple activities such as chair yoga during breaks.
Proper hydration is also important, he said, encouraging people to drink enough water, even more than the recommended six to eight glasses a day, especially as the dry season begins.
Finally, Mr. Rosales advised to avoid smoking and limit the use of pain relievers and supplements without proper medical guidance, while ensuring regular medical examinations. – Edg Adrian A. Eva
