The city government of Valenzuela has opened its new hemodialysis center that will cater exclusively to coronavirus patients with kidney problems.

Mayor Rex Gatchalian said once the city government finally gets its license to operate, the new medical facility can serve dialysis patients who test positive for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

“Since the pandemic started, we realized that a lot of our Covid patients who also undergo dialysis could not find dialysis centers that would take them in because of their Covid-positive status. That is why we decided to open our own dialysis center that will cater exclusively to Covid patients,” he said in a social media post on Wednesday.

The hemodialysis center, which is located on the third floor of the Valenzuela City Emergency Hospital (VCEH) in Barangay Dalandanan, is a joint venture between the city government and the Premier 101 Medical and Diagnostic Center.

Under the public-private partnership (PPP), Premier 101 will provide medical services, supplies, and medicines to the Covid-19 patients undergoing dialysis.

“Protocol requires Covid-19 positive patients who belong to high-risk populations, such as those undergoing dialysis, to be referred to hospitals or big Covid facilities for them to receive the proper care they need,” the city said.

“Transferring patients to another facility poses a greater health risk as the process of transporting them exposes them to other infections,” it added.

The facility is equipped with PHP6 million worth of Fresenius 2008K hemodialysis machines and other dialysis apparatus.

The city government is still waiting for the actual site inspection and granting of a license to operate from the Department of Health (DOH).

Once fully operational, the dialysis center can accommodate up to nine patients at a time and can serve three batches daily.

It will be manned by the VCEH personnel and other medical staff from Premier 101 Medical and Diagnostic Center. (PNA)