More cases of kidney diseases noted every year

CEBU, Philippines - Health authorities are worried over the increased number of cases of chronic kidney diseases which is now the seventh leading causes of deaths among Filipinos.

Dr. Alvin Roxas, kidney transplant surgeon at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, said that the number of people seeking kidney dialysis increases every year and there is no imminent sign that the number of cases are going down.

Roxas said that an estimated 3,000 to 5,000 new kidney dialysis patients are documented every year nationwide.

Roxas, who spoke during the Department of Health’s observation of the National Kidney Month yesterday, pointed out that in Region-7, males with an average age of 35 to 50 years old are the ones who usually get these kinds of diseases.

He pointed out that this is mainly due to an unhealthy lifestyle and the “western culture” of eating among Filipino’s which destroys the kidney.

With the increasing number of kidney disease patients, health officials see the need for more facilities and equipments like dialysis machines.

According to Roxas, in Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center which is the only government hospital accredited in performing transplant in Region-7, they have 20 dialysis machines running non-stop from Monday to Sunday that accommodates 80 patients a day and 560 patients per week.

He said that they cannot accommodate all the patients that is why they have to refer other patients to private hospitals with dialysis machines.

The dialysis cost P 2,500 per session and is done two to three times a week but members of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation are entitled to 45 free dialysis sessions all throughout the year.

Roxas said that dialysis gives hope to kidney patients but added that beyond dialysis, there is the option for a kidney transplant. 

He said that kidney transplants cause a million or more and patients have to look for donor’s either from “living related donor, living unrelated donor and deceased donor.”

He said that Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center is in need of organ donors to cater to the needs of the patients who need transplants.

In spite of the big amount needed for kidney transplants, PhilHealth’s Z benefit package covers hospital expenses for very expensive treatments in selected hospitals contracted by Phil Health for PhilHealth members.

However, even with treatments offered for chronic kidney diseases, Roxas emphasized on the importance of prevention. He said that in preventing chronic diseases, people should maintain a healthy lifestyle and observe early detection through regular urinalysis.

“If we cannot prevent, at least we can detect it early”, Roxas said.

Aside from the National Kidney Month, the Department of Health also celebrates Child Safety Week in which they give safety tips for parents, mass immunization and vaccines for measles and rubella to children ages 9 months to 59 months and polio vaccines for children from birth to 59 months. (FREEMAN)