DIGOS CITY, Davao del Sur, June 28 (PIA) – Provincial health officer Dr. Azucena Dayanghirang has recommended for the establishment of a dialysis center in the province, aiming to provide affordable and accessible treatment facility for patients with kidney disease.
Dayanghirang said this proposal will be presented to the incoming set of local government officials headed by newly-elected Governor Claude Bautista, and to the Department of Health for approval and funding requirements.
She brought up the necessity for a dialysis center to the Davao del Sur media during Wednesday’s (June 26) Kapihan sa PIA-XI in Digos City that tackled on the promotion of renal health care in celebration of this year’s Kidney Month.
She said if the facility would be available in the province, patients with kidney disease need not travel to Davao City, which is a one-hour ride from Digos City and more than an hour from other municipalities, to seek for treatment.
Although there are few existing private dialysis facilities in Digos City, Dayanghirang deemed it vital to put up a government-owned treatment center to cater to more patients, especially those from the low-income sector.
Dr. Chito Cornejo, kidney expert and diplomate of the Philippine Society of Nephrology-Davao del Sur Chapter based in Digos City, bared he has 60 patients undergoing dialysis at the Digos Doctors Hospital.
He told the media on the same forum that there are two patients at Gonzales Maranan Medical Center and six at NephroCare where he is the medical director.
He added that there are 500 dialysis treatments for these patients per month.
He said most these patients come from the municipality of Magsaysay, and the others are from Bansalan, Digos City, Malalag and Padada.
Cornejo however disclosed that there were patients who started their treatments in Digos City, but opted to continue at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) in Davao City where treatment fee is cheaper.
The facilities in Digos City are asking P950 per treatment in excess of the PhilHealth benefits, and P2,900 per treatment without PhilHealth, he stated.
Meanwhile, Dayanghirang mentioned that only one patient undergoing maintenance dialysis was monitored to have been admitted at the Davao del Sur Provincial Hospital.
The proposal for the establishment of dialysis center is part of PHO’s five-year health program for the province as a result of the strategic planning among provincial, city and municipal health officers, she bared.
She urged for a continuous and strengthened renal campaign program in the province as she noted that the National Kidney and Transplant Institute – Renal Disease Control Program (NKTI-REDCOP) has ended last year in the province.
Dayanghirang said it was worthy to note that there are private practitioners like Dr. Cornejo and SPMC kidney specialist consultant Dr. Franklin Guillano who are actively advocating for renal health care.
The campaign against kidney disease in the country has been spearheaded by NKTI-REDCOP in partnership with the Philippine Society of Nephrologists and Philippine Information Agency. (PIA-XI/Carina L. Cayon)
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