ILOILO City’s San Isidro Uswag Dialysis Center in Jaro district is now fully operational, providing free outpatient hemodialysis treatment to residents battling chronic kidney disorders since it opened on August 28.
The center houses 14 dialysis machines that can accommodate 28 patients for four hours per session, with one Covid-19 and three non-Covid-19 isolation rooms.
It operates Monday to Saturday to cater to two batches of patients from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., manned by one nephrologist, three physicians, and 12 nurses.
Mayor Jerry Treñas said that more dialysis machines will be added to the health centers in Molo and Arevalo, bringing health services closer to city residents as these centers are being established in districts to help city indigent recipients who are burdened by costly private clinic or hospital fees.
This provides relief for Ilonggos in need, defraying them at least P4,000 per dialysis session.
Those who can avail themselves of hemodialysis treatment are city residents, indigents, and active members of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).
"We have an additional dialysis center that is free of charge by the City Government; patients are welcome to come in to be assessed and must pass the necessary requirements, such as the Certificate of Indigency verified by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), Barangay Certificate of Residency, laboratory requirements, and must be a PhilHealth member," City Health Officer Dr. Annabelle Tang said.
Some 14 patients have started to undergo treatment, and CHO is yet to study the possibility of operating 24 hours to accommodate more patients in the facility, she added. (PR)
