Dialysis center to rise in Mandaue
The first dialysis center in the north will soon rise inside the Mandaue City Hospital compound.
Construction will start next month, according to Mayor Luigi Quisumbing during the groundbreaking ceremony yesterday morning.
The facility will cost P30.5 million. Its construction was facilitated by the Pwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) Party-List with the help of the Department of Health (DOH) 7 and the City Government.
“We are closely coordinating with the Office of the Mayor and DOH in facilitating the release of almost P11 million for the construction of the center and the P19.5 million for the purchase of the dialysis machine,” PBA Party-List Rep. Mark Sambar told reporters.
Meanwhile, Mayor Quisumbing said that they can purchase eight dialysis machines with the budget, adding that one or two machines will be allocated for non-Mandaue residents but the rest will be for the exclusive use of locals.
He also said that since the facility is a DOH project, the City will adopt DOH guidelines on dealing with dialysis patients to check the possibility of them availing themselves of the treatment for free.
“We will discuss it with the City Council kay (since) the council will be the one that will formulate the guidelines,” Quisumbing said.
The mayor said that he was happy to learn from DOH that dialysis patients can have 90 free session every year through Philhealth.
Dr. Edna Seno of the City Health Office said the more and more residents are suffering from a lifestyle disease that usually affects their kidneys, which will require some of them to undergo dialysis. Employees at the health office and the City Government have not been immune to the disease, she said, adding that the incidence rate is “alarming.”
Quisumbing said that as of now, patients who cannot afford to go to a private hospital to undergo dialysis end up at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City. But because the number of equipment is limited, they have to wait almost the whole day for their turn, he said.
“Aside from the health effects that dialysis treatment inflicts on a person naa sad cost sa ilang quality time sa ilang pamilya ug sa ilang trabaho (it also affects the patients’ time with their family and work). Hopefully by establishing this dialysis center, we’ll be able to give them the convenience so that they will not be able to lose time with their loved ones,” Quisumbing said.