MANILA, Philippines — The city government of Manila on Thursday opened the country’s largest free dialysis facility.
Mayor Isko Moreno along with former mayor Alfredo Lim and Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna led the inauguration of the Flora V. Valisno de Siojo Dialysis Center at the Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center.
The event coincided with the 45th birthday celebration of Moreno.
The dialysis center was named after Lim’s late grandmother, Flora Valisno, through an ordinance passed by the city council headed by Lacuna.
“This is a small recognition for the 12 years of service mayor Lim rendered to Manila,” Moreno said.
Lim thanked Moreno for naming the center after his grandmother.
The center has 91 dialysis machines, which may be increased to 100 to accommodate as many patients as possible, according to Moreno.
He said the center is bigger than the National Kidney and Transplant Institute.
Moreno said it has been his dream to build a dialysis center since he was a vice mayor.
Lacuna said dialysis treatment costs at least P2,200 per session and prices may increase to up to P5,000 per session in private hospitals.