FLORA, Apayao – Gov. Elias C. Bulut, Jr. has given yApayaos more access to health care with several health facility developments at hand, including the opening of a dialysis center in Flora District Hospital (FDH) soon.
With this development, FDH will be the second hospital in the province to offer hemodialysis treatment aside from the Far North Luzon General Hospital and Training Center (FNLGHTC) serving patients with kidney disease from Flora, Santa Marcela, and other nearby towns who will no longer need to travel far for treatment.
With the arrival of hemodialysis equipment on August 8, the soon-to-rise center valued at PhP15 million is approaching its completion. The center will have 9 dialysis machines that can serve 20-25 renal patients daily.
According to the 2022 data from National Kidney and Transplant Institute, at least one Filipino develops chronic kidney disease every 40 minutes, or 36 Filipinos getting renal disease per day.
“Hundreds of patients will be assisted once this new facility is finished,” Provincial Health Officer Dr. Mark Joleen Calban said, adding that the dialysis treatment will be free as the facility is accredited by PhilHealth.
This recent development is in fulfillment of the Health Facility Development Plan under the Province-Wide Health System (PWHS).
Necessary steps are now being undertaken by the PHO to improve the PWHS of Apayao, including the strengthening of the health referral system so that there would be a unified structure among the medical institutions.
The efficient transfer of patients from PHCF to larger hospitals equipped to address their medical needs optimizes resources use, thereby reducing costs and potentially saving lives by making sure that precise medical attention will be given to the patients. By Jess Christley Marquez
