More than a year after the machines were delivered, the Eastern Bicol Medical Center’s dialysis center is expected to begin operation in the second week of February.
In a report to Governor Joseph Cua, EBMC hospital chief Dr. Vietrez Abella said that the Department of Health (DOH) issued the License to Operate for the 10-bed hemodialysis center last Jan. 25, 2023.
She added that the hospital management is now applying for accreditation with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) so that patients can avail of the 94 hemodialysis sessions covered by the state health insurance.
The benefit worth P234,000.00 is granted to qualified outpatients with stage-5 chronic kidney disease.
PhilHealth also grants an annual P270,000 peritoneal dialysis benefit and P600,000 for kidney transplantation.
Dr. Abella also said that the provincial hospital also has to complete medical supplies for the dialysis center as some have expired already and the dialysis center at the Juan M. Alberto Memorial District Hospital sometimes borrows supplies from EBMC.
She disclosed that hemodialysis center head Dr. Marjorie Lamban has set the second week of February as the target date for its opening and the completion of the medical suppliers would ensure continuous operations.
The authorization to operate the dialysis station is an addendum to the EBMC’s license to operate issued by DOH Health Facilities and Services Regulatory Bureau (HFSRB) Director IV Atty. Nicolas Lutero III to the Level 2 hospital with an 84-bed capacity.
Personnel to be detailed to the dialysis center have already undergone training.