THIS is a piece of good news for Manila third district residents who are in dire need of dialysis but cannot afford it.
Mayor Honey Lacuna announced that Rep. Joel Chua (3rd district) has sponsored a dialysis center in Binondo, Manila, to aid patients who cannot afford the costly medical process.
Lacuna and Chua led the formal opening of the Binondo dialysis center, joined by Vice Mayor Yul Servo, Liga ng mga Barangay head Lei Lacuna, barangay chair Evelyn de Guzman and third district Councilors Fa Fugoso, Apple Nieto, Terence Alibarbar, Tol Zarcal, Maile Atienza and majority leader Atty. Jong Isip.
The mayor gladly said the new dialysis center called Passion Health Care Dialysis Center, complements the already existing ones at the Sta. Ana Hospital, Ospital ng Maynila and the Gat Andres Bonifacio Medical Center which is headed by Director Dr. Ted Martin and the biggest in Southeast Asia that can serve over 100 at any given time.
The mayor profusely thanked Chua for sponsoring the project, as she expressed optimism about also putting up similar dialysis centers in the remaining districts that do not have them yet.
The congressman said the new medical facility will particularly serve indigent patients through PhilHealth.
With this in place, Chua said medical referrals from his office will be accepted at Passion Healthcare Philippines, Inc. in Binondo.
“We made sure that Passion Healthcare complies with the Department of Health and PhilHealth standards on accreditation and quality standards for that kind of healthcare facility,” he said.
The dialysis center, located in Barangay 288 in Binondo under Chairman Bernard Go, is owned and operated by Passion Healthcare Philippines, which has had similar centers in other areas also serving indigents availing of free dialysis paid for by PhilHealth.
To avail of dialysis services, Chua said that indigent patients in the third District of the City of Manila will be attended to at the field offices where they will undergo interviews and assessments. There will be forms to fill in and documentation needed as instructed by DOH and PhilHealth.
Chua’s Chief of Staff, Richelle Pobre, explained that the healthcare company and the office of Rep. Chua have tied up so that all endorsements will be prioritized and may avail of dialysis free of charge through Philhealth and the Congressman’s medical assistance program.
Pobre added that those who do not have Philhealth will be processed by Chua’s office.
I was told by a doctor-friend that dialysis treatments nowadays run from about P2,200 to P5,000 every session, and are needed to be done three times a week.
That’s how costly dialysis sessions are so centers that offer them for free are such a blessing for our poor fellow men who are suffering from kidney illnesses.
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