The Eastern Samar Provincial Hospital (ESPH) in Borongan City will open the first dialysis center in the province this year that would provide free services for indigent patients.

In a statement on Wednesday, ESPH chief Jessica Sabalberino said the provincial government has entered into an agreement with a private service provider that would bring 20 dialysis machines to the public hospital.

Based on the contract of service, the private partner will also provide a nephrologist and other equipment and accessories for the center, while the provincial government will provide the space and manpower for its operation and maintenance.

“This will be established as soon as possible. This is now on the part of the service provider since the province has already provided what they are asking for,” Sabalberino said.

She added the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation will shoulder the dialysis treatment of each patient in the province up to PHP4,000.

If the cost exceeds the amount, he said the Malasakit Center will pay the remaining balance to the service provider.

“It is specified in the contract that patients won’t have to shell out any amount for their dialysis. This is purely service to all patients here,” she added.

The ESPH disclosed that some 156 dialysis patients in the province travel for hours two to three times per week to undergo treatment in Tacloban City, the regional capital.

“This is timely since patients here still need to go to Tacloban where there are dialysis centers. There are reported cases as well of coronavirus transmission in some dialysis clinics,” Sabalberino said.

Dialysis is a treatment that filters and purifies the blood using a machine. This helps keep one’s fluids and electrolytes in balance when the kidneys cannot function properly. (PNA)