Alvarado vows more dialysis centers via PPP

CITY OF MALOLOS – The Provincial Government of Bulacan will enter into a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) program in order to improve health care services of the Bulacan Medical Center and to expand its Dialysis Center and two more government district hospitals in the province to accommodate the growing number of kidney patients.

Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado said that at present, there are at least 10 operating dialysis machines at the BMC but he said it can only accommodate 50 out of the some 200 patients with kidney problems.

“These medical apparatus are giving lifelines to our province mates and we want to provide them with more additional machines, that’s why we are making an expansion at our hospitals,” the governor said.

He also told patients and their relatives that there is no truth that the dialysis center will be privatized.

“Hindi mahihinto ang serbisyo ng ating dialysis center sa BMC at sa halip ay madadagdagan pa. We will procure 40 more dialysis machines with doctors and medical technicians under the PPP scheme which will still be aided by PhilHealth,” Alvarado said.

He also explained that the 10 machines available at the BMC is good for ten years but since it is being used 24 hours a day, most of them conks out in just two years prompting the PGB to get new ones which cost Php 1 million each.

Under the new program, 20 of the new machines will be available at the BMC to augment the 10 dialysis machines, while 10 more units will be placed at the Rogaciano M. Mercado Memorial Hospital and at the Baliwag District Hospital.

Alvarado also explained that the Intensive Care Unit at BMC is now also being spruced up into a modern medical facility which will be at par with the ICUs of modern hospitals like St. Luke’s and the National Heart Center.

“We are slowly but surely making our hospitals a better medical haven where our people can get modern and quality health care,” the governor added.