Ricky Poca
June has been designated as Kidney Month by the Department of Health (DOH).
That is why last Tuesday’s edition of the 888 News Forum that I hosted featured topnotch nephrologists in Cebu who discussed at length concerns on kidney health and related ailments.
Dr. Vivina Chiu, pediatric nephrologist and past president of the Nephrology Society, discussed the background of the Kidney Month observance and the lineup of activities for the occasion.
She also discussed preventable children’s diseases that can lead to end-stage kidney disease. Dr. Alexander Tan, an adult nephrologist and current president of the Society, talked about hypertension and kidney.
So it is important for the public to know that hypertension is one of the causes to end-stage kidney disease. Another nephrologist, Dr. Cesar Quiza, discussed about kidney and diabetes during the forum.
Diabetes is a leading cause of kidney disease. I am a diabetic, and I have end-stage kidney disease. My diabetes also caused me to contract heart disease called ischemic myopathy.
This condition forced me to undergo two angiogram and angioplasty and another one coming. My heart illness is quite costly, and anyone similarly affected may see his or her savings gone to keep it in check.
During the forum, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Rene Catan talked about their “peritoneal dialysis” program which is cheaper than hemo dialysis since it can be done at home.
Under “peritoneal dialysis,” the patient needs only a solution and no dialysis machine. It’s important for the patient and their families not to be complacent and to maintain sanitation during the process.
I am supporting this Capitol program 100 percent since I saw firsthand the ordeals experienced by dialysis patients.
The PhilHealth subsidy goes a long way for dialysis patients. The subsidy costs P2,600 per session and is extended from 45 sessions to 90 sessions.
But the patient still spends because private hospitals charge P4,500 per dialysis session. So when the subsidy runs out, I observed that the patients also start disappearing.
Just imagine at P4,500 per session for three times a week — the patient spends more than P12,000 a week.
I ask Congress to increase the budget of PhilHealth in order to increase its subsidy to dialysis to at least P4,000, and I appeal to the private hospitals not to raise their costs for dialysis sessions.
By the way, a dialysis patient would be required to spend for the dialyzer that cost P1,000 to P 1,500. The dialyzer can be reused 10 times, and he or she needs an injection of eposino.
Again based on experience, I know how difficult it is to raise funds to pay for dialysis just to extend one’s life. So this early I am appealing to the young to be vigilant and careful about their health.
That is why I always remind my siblings to stay away from food that has sugar and salt to avoid diabetes and hypertension.
I also appeal to the generosity of rich Cebuanos that they establish a foundation or kidney center that can help kidney patients.
Private hospitals that made so much money from their patients could set up a charity ward or socialized payment scheme in their dialysis center.
I am so thankful to Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III for supporting the peritoneal dialysis program. I hope he will complement this by building more dialysis centers in the provincial hospitals in Carcar City, Danao City and Balamban town.
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