The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) approved to strengthening the dialysis center in the biggest state-run tertiary hospital in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC).
NEDA Secretary, Mr. Arsenio Balisacan, stated that the solicited public-private partnership project for dialysis treatment in BGHMC has a total cost of PHP 392 million (USD 7 million). This will increase the number of hemodialysis machines at the hospital from 30 to 108 by the year 2029 and will make the hospital provide more affordable dialysis treatment to many patients who have chronic kidney disease.
Mr. Balisacan highlighted that chronic kidney disease is one of the leading causes of hospitalization and the 10th leading cause of mortality in the Philippines. The most common treatment for its final stage is hemodialysis treatment, which requires hemodialysis machines. Access to dialysis services will be supported through the government-owned and controlled corporation, Philippine Health Insurance (PhilHealth), as it could accommodate a year’s treatment. PhilHealth is also set to expand this year’s coverage for outpatient hemodialysis from its current 90 sessions to 156 sessions.
(Source: ABS-CBN News)
