TACLOBAN CITY – A total of 141 patients are now benefiting from free hemodialysis treatment provided by the provincial government of Eastern Samar at the Eastern Samar Provincial Hospital (ESPH) in Borongan City.
According to Dr. Jessica Sabalberino, ESPH chief of hospital, the patients undergo dialysis in three shifts daily, each lasting four hours, from 5 am to 10 am, and 3 pm.
“The establishment of a hemodialysis treatment center in our province was driven by the growing demand for dialysis services. Many of our patients previously had to travel to Tacloban just to receive treatment,” Sabalberino explained.
She added that prior to the center’s opening, Eastern Samar had no free dialysis facility, highlighting a major gap in healthcare services.
This prompted Governor Ben Evardone to prioritize dialysis treatment as a flagship health program, ensuring access to life-saving care for kidney patients in the province.
“This program has significantly eased the financial burden on patients and their families. They no longer have to travel to Tacloban, saving both time and money while improving their quality of life,” Sabalberino said.
Currently, ESPH is the only hospital in the province offering free dialysis treatment. However, the provincial government plans to expand this initiative by establishing hemodialysis centers in its district hospitals in the towns of Oras, Balangiga, and Guiuan, bringing much-needed medical services closer to communities.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
