A lot of health checks only happen after symptoms show up—and for kidney disease, that’s often too late.
Now, you can get a free kidney screening at select Mercury Drug branches before it reaches that point.
This year, Mercury Drug, AstraZeneca, and Diabetes Philippines are once again offering free Urine Albumin-to-Creatinine Ratio (UACR) tests—an early screening tool for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), a condition doctors often describe as “silent” because symptoms usually appear only at later stages.
According to AstraZeneca Philippines, 35.94% of Filipinos had CKD in 2022, with one person diagnosed every 40 minutes.
The screenings will be available at three Mercury Drug branches in Metro Manila: Pavilion Mall and Shangri-La Plaza in Mandaluyong, TriNoma Mall in Quezon City.
Outside NCR, the program will also run at the Noveleta branch in Cavite.
Free screenings will be offered throughout the year, from Wednesdays to Sundays, during branch operating hours.
Anyone can walk in—no appointments, referrals, or IDs required.
4% test positive in the free screening program
The UACR test focuses on detecting small amounts of protein in the urine, which can be an early sign that the kidneys are under stress. In hospitals, the same test can cost anywhere from roughly PHP2,000 to PHP3,500.
According to health advocates like Dr. Rey Rosales of Diabetes Philippines, excess protein leakage is an early sign of kidney damage that is not detected by routine urinalysis tests.
He also stressed the UACR test is meant for early detection—not diagnosis—and that those with abnormal results should consult a doctor for follow-up testing. Catching problems early can mean simple interventions like medication adjustments or lifestyle changes rather than late-stage treatment.
“The two major causes are diabetes and hypertension... Before we go to that dreaded complication, we can check already,” Rosales said.
“If it's early, we can still prevent it from becoming the worst scenario and in fact, bring it back to normal.”
Since the partnership began in 2024, the free screening program has reached around 44,000 Filipinos, with about 4% testing positive for possible CKD. With the program’s renewal this year, organizers aim to screen at least 10,000 more patients at participating branches.
This story originally appeared on Spot.ph. Minor edits have been made by the PEP.ph editors.
READ MORE: