CCMC execs welcome kidney center in Cebu City

CEBU, Philippines — The kidney institute which Cebu City South District Representative Edu Rama is pushing is a very welcome development.

At least two officials of Cebu City Medical Center said this would mean cheaper treatment options for the Cebuanos that have kidney problems.

Under Rama’s House Bill No. 2768, the Kidney Institute of Cebu will be specializing in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, care, rehabilitation and/or relief of kidney disease and allied diseases.

It will also have its own Board of Trustees that will be chaired by the Secretary of Health while the institute will be funded by the national government under its General Appropriations Act.

Having a kidney institute in Cebu is important as there is now a rising number of people with kidney problems, said Dr. Anton Reposar II via the city’s Public Information Office.

Reposar noted that the increase of kidney related cases here are also due to the lifestyle of many Cebuanos.

He said having a kidney institute here would also decongest hospitals while patients are assured of continuity of after-care.

“Nindot ni siya kay at least, dili na ma-congest ang mga patients sa hospitals...Continuity of care is also assured as the institute will complement related hospital services,” Reposar said.

CCMC consultant, Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, also lauded Rama’s initiative, saying this will save time and money for patients in Cebu and neighboring provinces as they will no longer travel to Manila if Cebu has its own specialty center.

“This will allow those who are in need to save time and money,” Loreche said.

In a statement earlier, the neophyte lawmaker stated that each dialysis session ranges from P2,000 to P7,000 and patients undergo at least three sessions per week.

“The cost of medical care for such a common disease is outrageous,” Rama said.

Meanwhile, CCMC has five dialysis machines placed at its temporary dialysis center at the Cebu City Quarantine Center (CCQC) in the North Reclamation Area.

Part of the floor plan of the new CCMC building is to have a dialysis center located within the hospital.

“Ang direction sa CCMC is by next year, ma-Level 3 na ta. We can have our dialysis units within the hospital para ang patients, dili na kailangan i-transport to CCQC,” Reposar revealed.

Once the additional floors at CCMC are finished, the hospital will operate more than 10 dialysis machines. — GMR (FREEMAN)