Governor Gwendolyn Garcia: Free dialysis for indigent patients

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has ordered all Capitol-run hospitals to provide free dialysis service to indigent patients in the province.

Garcia issued on Monday, November 13, a memorandum to all chiefs of hospitals after a dialysis patient told her his experience at a province hospital where he was allegedly made to buy his own supplies for his treatment.

The governor said that all indigents can have their hemodialysis for free at any hospitals owned by Cebu provincial government.  She said that indigent patients only have to present a certificate of indigency from a duly accredited social worker to avail of the service for free.

"For non-indigent patients, a standard fee of two thousand five hundred pesos (P2,500) per dialysis session shall apply," read a portion of the memorandum.

During the Capitol’s Caravan of Services in Alcantara last week, Garcia clarified that dialysis services in the Capitol-run hospitals are free for indigents.

“Busa, i-anunsyo ko kini karon, ug kanang Carcar, paminaw mo diha, dili angay nga pabayron ang pasyente sa bisag unsang supply kay libre ka na. Ang Probinsya sa Sugbo man gyud ang mopalit niana,” Garcia said.

Currently, Cebu Province has three dialysis centers — Balamban, Carcar and Danao.

Garcia emphasized that the patients should not be burdened by the lack of supplies of the hospitals. She said all supplies should be charged to the Office of the Governor.

Meanwhile, more dialysis centers are expected to be available soon after Garcia and the officials of Medtronix Medical Supplies and Equipment have initially agreed to install and maintain 45 regular hemodialysis machines which will be divided to the district hospitals in the islands of Bantayan and Camotes and Balamban town. — (FREEMAN)