THE largest government-owned renal care center in Pampanga located at the Mexico Community Hospital has finally opened its doors to serve indigent patients suffering from kidney diseases.
The newly-constructed P70-million hemodialysis center, which stands on a 2,000-square-meter-lot in Barangay San Carlos, was funded through the local government’s annual budget supported by advanced tax payments made by mall developer SM Prime Holdings Incorporated.
The facility has 24 fully functional brand new dialysis machines and complete set of medical equipment which can cater to at least 96 patients per day, who will be attended by licensed nephrologists and nurses.
According to Mayor Teddy Tumang, treatment at the center will be for all Mexicano patients, as well as renal patients from nearby cities and municipalities who cannot afford the high-cost of dialysis in private centers.
The hemodialyzer, which serves as artificial kidney of the patients, will also be given for free to Mexico residents, while non-residents will be asked to pay half of the total amount of P1,300 while the other half will be subsidized by the local government, said Tumang.
However, the injectible medicine also necessary for patients amounting to some P300 must be paid by the patients, Tumang added.
“Our primary aim is to help our kabalens. Although everything is almost free, patients are assured because the medicines and equipment are branded and of high quality,” he said.
Mexico town is among the first local government units to operate its own dialysis facility which started with four units. The mayor opted to improve the capacity of the facility and construct a building facility for dialysis patients to cater to the growing number of dialysis patients.
Lauded
Tumang lauded SM Prime for its support for the project.
SM Prime, through public relations manager Rain Cervantes, was presented with a plaque of appreciation. Cervantes said the company supports worthy community initiatives.
Tumang said SM Prime’s advanced tax payments will be deducted from the mall operator's tax dues until June 30, 2019, well within the mayor's term of office.
Tumang said that instead of borrowing money from the bank, they opted to finance the project through the advanced tax payments from the mall giant since this will not accrue interests.
Construction of the facility started in 2017.
Incidentally, MCH, which was established during Tumang's incumbency, recently celebrated its seventh founding anniversary this year.
"It was my dream to build a hemodialysis center for Mexico since the start of my term last year," Tumang said.
The center will not only provide quality health services to the public -- Mexico residents or not -- but also generate income through the benefits coverage of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth).
Philhealth pays up to P75,000 per patient for hemodialysis treatment.
"This facility's priority will be to provide services to the poor and not to generate income. But we have a mechanism to recover expenses but that is through Philhealth so that the poor won't have to suffer paying for the services," Tumang said.
The blessing and inauguration of the hemodialysis center was also graced by officials of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and Department of Health whose officials all expressed support in the operation of the facility.