LAPU-LAPU CITY - The island city of Lapu-Lapu has marked a significant milestone in healthcare with the opening of its first dialysis center on Friday, aiming to provide critical care for residents suffering from chronic kidney disease.
According to Philippines News Agency, the establishment of the 15-bed capacity center means that locals will no longer have to travel to the mainland of Cebu for hemodialysis treatments.
The new facility is equipped with 15 dialysis machines, capable of serving up to 45 patients each day. Operations are set to continue around the clock, with two doctors, four nurses, and two technicians working in eight-hour shifts to ensure uninterrupted service. The city government has formed a public-private partnership with EasaCare Medical and Dialysis Center to operationalize the center efficiently.
During the grand opening, Isabel Abello, CEO of EasaCare, and Lapu-Lapu City's lone district Representative Cynthia King Chan were in attendance to inspect the facilities and services offered. Representative King Chan announced that the congressional district office would be providing medical assistance and covering dialysis session costs for the city's indigent residents. "Right now, we can allocate PHP110,000 per (kidney) patient per year," she stated.
Patients in need of hemodialysis are required to visit Lapu-Lapu City Hospital for a preliminary laboratory test, which serves as an endorsement to the dialysis center. Additionally, Mayor Chan revealed that the national government would soon provide a PHP50 million monthly allocation dedicated to supplying free medicines for indigent patients, further bolstering the city's healthcare initiatives.