Taking care of your kidneys are highly important, especially with the high rate of chronic kidney disease. Many Filipinos are undergoing dialysis due to undetected kidney condition. Kidney stone is one of the common culprit of kidney damage, and fortunately it is treatable.
Whether you’re in need of kidney stone treatment or someone you love is diagnosed with this kidney condition, this guide covers options, costs, and more. Kidney stones treatment are easily accessible. NowServing connects you with kidney specialists in the Philippines.
Why Immediate Treatment for Kidney Stone is A Must?
Kidney stones come in different sizes, and the smaller ones can sit quietly in your urinary tract for weeks or months without setting off any alarms. By the time pain or other symptoms show up, the stone may have already irritated your kidneys, ureters, or bladder.
Many patients brush off these early warning signs, hoping the discomfort will pass on its own. Skipping a doctor’s visit at this stage is risky because untreated kidney stones can block urine flow, trigger infections, and cause permanent kidney damage.
Read this related article and check if you have kidney stone symptoms.
Kidney Stones Treatment Philippines Options & Costs
The right method depends on the size of the stones, their location, and your symptoms. When you compare your options for kidney stones treatment, hospitals offer three procedures. A urologist decides which fits after imaging.
ESWL and Shock Waves
Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) uses focused shock waves to break a stone into smaller pieces that you pass in your urine. An ultrasound scan, which bounces sound waves off the kidneys, locates the target first.
This shock wave lithotripsy is an outpatient procedure that suits a stone up to about 2 cm. Makati Medical Center and other tertiary hospitals run ESWL through their Department of Surgery.
Cost of ESWL: PHP 30,000 to 60,000 for one session.
Learn more about lithotripsy procedure for breaking kidney stones
Ureteroscopy and Holmium Laser
During ureteroscopy, a urologist passes a thin ureteroscope up the urethra and bladder to reach a stone stuck in the ureters. A Holmium laser then breaks it apart, which works even on stubborn deposits.
Larger kidney stones, or those that fail other methods, may need surgery under general anesthesia. Most patients go home the same day or after one night.
Cost of Ureteroscopy: PHP 50,000 to 120,000 with laser.
Keyhole Surgery or Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL)
This procedure involves a small incision in your back where the doctor inserts a thin tube called a nephroscope directly into the kidney. Through this tube, the doctor uses laser, ultrasound, or pneumatic energy to break the stone into smaller pieces, then suctions out the fragments through the same opening. PCNL is performed under general anesthesia, and most patients stay in the hospital for 1 to 2 days afterward.
Doctors recommend PCNL when stones are too large for shock wave therapy, when the stone is lodged deep in the kidney, or when previous treatments have failed. The procedure has a success rate of around 90 percent, and most patients return to regular activities within 2 weeks.
Cost of PCNL: PHP 120,000 and up for big deposits.
Medication treatment for kidney stones is also availale. Check out this guide to know more.
HMO and PhilHealth Coverage for Kidney Stone Treatment in the Philippines
Treatment for kidney stone involves shock wave therapy and surgery. These procedures can be expensive, and most FIlipinos cannot avail them through out-of-pocket option.
One option you can consider is using your HMO to cover the expenses for your procedure. Make sure to check with your health provider if your plan includes any of the procedures mentioned earlier.
Another option is to use PhilHealth. However, the PhilHealth Z-Benefit package only includes dialysis procedures and other related services for treating chronic kidney disease (CKD). Still, it is still ideal to visit a PhilHealth office in your area to ask about other possible health package for kidney stone treatment Philippines.
Learn more about how to utilize Z Benefit of PhilHealth for other health conditions like prostate cancer.
Natural Remedies and Diet for Kidney Stones Treatment
Tiny crystals often pass on their own as you urinate. Steady hydration helps small pieces move through before they grow and affect your other urinary organs further.
Furthermore, simple diet changes lower your risk of new kidney stones, which matters for Filipinos who love salty, protein-heavy food. Eating high sodium food often affects your urine and may result in producing more crystals
It’s best to cut back on salty foods and drink more water for a natural remedy for kidney stones.
How to Book a Doctor for Kidney Stone Treatment in the Philippines
NowServing lets you find and book a doctor without lining up or calling around. Search by specialty, compare schedules, and reserve a slot in minutes.
- Visit the NowServing website or open the NS app and find Kidney Stone conditions page.
- Check the list of doctors and you’ll see urologists, nephrologists and other specialists.
- Select your doctor and schedule a session.
NOTE: Before booking a specific treatment for kidney stone, you must first undergo a doctor consultation, especially if you haven’t done that yet. The doctor will assess your condition and suggest the ideal option based on the size and location of your kidney stone.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the recovery time after surgery?
Most patients bounce back from ESWL within two to three days. Ureteroscopy needs about a week, while open or keyhole surgery under general anesthesia can take two to four weeks before you feel normal.
Is stone removal an outpatient procedure?
Often, yes. ESWL and many ureteroscopy cases run as an outpatient procedure, so you go home the same day. Larger or complicated cases may still need a short hospital stay.
Can I flush out my kidney stone naturally?
Yes, it is possible if your stone is still small. Drinking plenty of water can help with this action. However, it is still important to get diagnosis and recommendations from your doctor to know the best option for kidney stone treatment. Book a doctor consultation on NowServing now!
Is it possible to avoid surgery when removing my kidney stone?
The type of treatment depends on the size of your kidney stone. Other cases can involve shock wave therapy to break the kidney stone, while others do require surgery like keyhole surgery due to large kidney stones.
Conclusion
3 procedures are commonly used by doctors for kidney stone treatment in the Philippines. Typically, doctors will suggest them based on stone size, location, and more. Book a kidney stone doctor consultation today to determine the best option for your case.
You can schedule doctor consultations with urologists and nephrologists on NowServing.
