CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — The city government is now preparing for the
enrollment of the beneficiaries of Mayor Vilma Caluag’s brainchild – free
hemodialysis under her universal health care program.
Only last Aug. 2, a memorandum of agreement was signed between Caluag and
the program’s provider Luzon Medical System, represented by its CEO Peter Paul
Soliman which greenlighted the parties to proceed to the succeeding steps – the
enrollment of beneficiaries and construction of the City Dialysis Center at the City
Civic Center in Barangay San Isidro.
To date, the MOA cited that there are 414 Fernandino indigent dialysis patients
who are eligible to avail themselves of the program. The city health office and city
social welfare and development office are targeting to start the enrollment of
beneficiaries from the initial batch of barangays in the succeeding weeks.
This is in consonance with the construction of the center set also in the same
period after the acquisition of necessary permits.
Cost free
“Mula noong kampanya pa lamang hanggang sa aking pag-upo, ito na ang sinasabi
kong prayoridad na programa ng ating administrasyon. Masasabi nating isa ito,
kung hindi man ang pinaka, sa mga magagandang hemodialysis programs sa
bansa sa aspetong pinansyal, lokasyon, at kalidad ng serbisyo,” Caluag said.
Under the revenue-sharing portion of the agreement, it was cited that the project
will implement a “No Balance Billing” policy, thus, it is cost-free to the city
government.
As the project’s main provider, the Luzon Medical System will provide and
maintain 25 dialysis machines, chairs, and over 60 related equipment and supplies
along with the facility’s exterior and interior needs, medical materials and tools,
among others, as likewise stated in the agreement.
The operations and construction works for the program will also be handled by
the provider.
While “the first party [City Government of San Fernando] shall provide a focal
point person for a smooth coordination, a land property for the center, ancillary
support, a registered social worker, ambulance with medical practitioners,
monitoring of the center’s operation, feedback mechanism, and necessary
structural and non-structural repairs.”
“The Philippines records an annual increase of chronic kidney disease patients
and with these exigent circumstances, there is a pressing need to open an
operational dialysis center to cater to indigent Fernandinos. The involvement of
both parties is essential to the effective and successful implementation of this
initiative,” affirmed Caluag and Torres II.
The Luzon Medical System is a Rizal province-based company providing medical
equipment, supplies, and services.
The agreement with the firm was realized following a sangguniang panlalawigan
resolution authored by councilor Dr. Ayzel Mari-Grace Macalino. CSFP-CIO
