TACLOBAN CITY – Ormoc City has inaugurated a state-of-the-art dialysis center, offering free treatment for PhilHealth members.
The Fresenius Kidney Care Ormoc Dialysis Clinic, located at the Ormoc Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Barangay San Pablo, was officially launched on March 13, 2025.
Equipped with 20 Fresenius 4008S machines, the facility can accommodate up to 100 patients daily, significantly expanding access to life-saving dialysis treatment for residents of Ormoc City and the 4th District of Leyte.
The clinic’s services are covered under the PhilHealth dialysis benefit package, making dialysis treatments free for members. However, any services beyond the package’s coverage may require out-of-pocket expenses or external funding.
Under PhilHealth Circular No. 2024-0023, the government increased dialysis coverage from 90 to 156 sessions per year, effective October 9, 2024. Additionally, the case rate package for outpatient hemodialysis has been raised from P4,000 to P6,350 per session, further easing the financial burden on patients.
Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres Gomez emphasized that the new facility will provide quality medical care in a clean and efficient environment, addressing the growing demand for dialysis services in the region.
“This clinic is not just for Ormocanons—it will serve the entire 4th district of Leyte, ensuring that more people have access to quality healthcare,” she said.
The launching ceremony was led by Mayor Lucy Torres Gomez, Rep.Richard Gomez, city officials, and Care Delivery managing director Marielle Aguirre.
The opening of the dialysis clinic comes amid a rise in chronic kidney disease (CKD) cases in the country, largely due to diabetes and hypertension. The availability of free dialysis is expected to greatly benefit patients, many of whom struggle with the high cost of long-term treatment.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
