Press Release - Jinggoy wants every regional, provincial hospital to set up dialysis centers; free dialysis sessions for indigent patients

SENATOR Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada has sought the passage of a law requiring all regional and provincial hospitals to set up dialysis centers to address the rising number of kidney disease cases in the country.

"Sophisticated medical equipment and advanced facilities are concentrated in highly urbanized cities. Consequently, patients from rural areas often need to travel long distances, which incurs high costs, including travel expenses. For patients with kidney disorders who require regular dialysis, these financial burdens can be especially challenging," Estrada said in underscoring the necessity of the proposed law under Senate Bill No. 800.

"Malaking kaluwagan sa bulsa, oras at iba pang alalahanin ng pasyente at kanilang pamilya kung may dialysis ward o centers sa lahat ng pampublikong ospital sa mga probinsya at gawing libre ito sa mga mahihirap," he also said, adding that the centers' services shall be provided to indigent patients free of charge.

In Estrada's proposed "Dialysis Center Act," all national, regional, and provincial government hospitals will be mandated to maintain a dialysis center - with complete dialysis machine, equipment, and supplies - within two years from the enactment of the bill. Funding for the operations of the centers shall be included in the yearly national budget.

Latest available data from the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) show that kidney diseases are the seventh leading cause of death among Filipinos. One Filipino develops chronic renal failure every hour, or about 120 Filipinos per million population every year.

According to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), current estimates indicate that approximately 2.3 million Filipinos have Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). Furthermore, in 2016, more than 36,000 patients underwent dialysis treatment, indicating a 15% increase in the number of patients in a single year.

These figures highlight the severity of the problem faced by the country's healthcare system and the need for concerted efforts to combat the rise of CKD, the veteran lawmaker said.

"As such, policymakers, healthcare providers, and the public must become more aware of the situation