Bongbong eyes more public dialysis centers in the provinces
Presidential aspirant Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr. is pushing to increase the number of government-run dialysis centers in the provinces to allow more Filipinos access to this essential service.
Data presented in a University of the Philippines (UP) webinar on COVID-19 and Dialysis held last December 2020 showed that one person dies of kidney failure every hour. It also revealed that almost 35,000 Filipinos are undergoing dialysis.
Over the past decade, the number of new cases has grown at a rate of 15% every year.
According to Marcos Jr., the plight of dialysis patients from the provinces who have no choice but to go to Metro Manila or other areas to avail of dialysis services should be looked into.
He added that these patients are compelled to travel long distances due to a lack of or sometimes absence of dialysis centers in their area.
“Nakakaawa ang kalagayan ng ating mga dialysis patient, marami sa kanila ang bumibyahe ng malayo, ng ilang oras para lamang makapagpa-dialysis at gumagastos ng malaki. So imbes na sana ipambili na ng gamot at bitamina nila ay napupunta pa sa other expenses katulad ng pamasahe o pangungupahan. We need to build more dialysis centers in the provinces para hindi na sila bumiyahe o mangungupahan,” said Marcos.
According to Medical Pinas, an online resource for medical-related topics, the cost of a dialysis session in a private hospital ranges from P2,000 to P7,000. While in public hospitals, the price ranges between P300 to P3,500. Although noticeably cheaper, the capacity of public hospitals and dialysis centers to cater to more patients is limited.
The Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) standard-bearer stated that should he win as President in next year’s polls, he will form a task force that will coordinate with LGUs and other government agencies to ensure free dialysis treatment for patients.
“Balak din nating gawing libre ‘yung pagda-dialysis, ang mahalaga dito ay maisalba natin sila sa paghihirap at madugtungan natin ‘yung kanilang buhay. Hirap na sila sa buhay, hirap pa magpagamot kaya makikipag-ugnayan tayo sa lokal na pamahalaan at sa mga ahensya ng gobyerno na responsable sa ganitong sitwasyon,” according to PFP standard-bearer.
“Yung PCSO malaki ang naitutulong sa ating mga pasyente, mayroon ding PAGCOR at PhilHealth, so sa tingin ko kapag nadagdagan ang mga dialysis center sa mga probinsya, mas matutulungan at mas mapapangalagaan natin sila,” Marcos, Jr. added.
