First US-standard dialysis clinic opens in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - The increasing demand for dialysis clinics in the Philippines brought about by the growing number of patients that need to undergo hemodialysis prompted a company to open a US standard dialysis clinic in Cebu.

The American Nephrology Care and Services Corp. (ANCSC), recently launched its dialysis center in Cebu located at the Ground Floor of Bridges Town Square, Plaridel Street, Mandaue City, which capitalizes on being the first clinic utilizing the US standard of a single-use dialyzer.

"The market for dialysis centers in the Philippines has not reached its saturation point simply because more and more people are diagnosed of diabetes and hypertension thus requiring them to undergo hemodialysis,” said Ryan Alicaya, one of ANCSC’s business partners.

Alicaya said the company strictly follows the Texas guidelines in running dialysis clinics, which is one of the strictest guidelines in the whole of continental US.

 Mariqueto “Mar” Pidlaoan, also one of ANCSC’s business partners and a Director of Dialysis Services at the Harris County Hospital District in Houston, Texas, observed that most dialysis clinics in Cebu re-process the dialyzers, which lessens its effectivity.

"In the US, we do not recycle the dialyzer. Once it is used, we dispose of it immediately” he said.

Pidlaoan enumerated the benefits of a single-use Optiflux Dialyzer namely: it provides 100 percent removal of extra fluids and wastes in the body; provides optimal hemodialysis results; and no harsh disinfectant used in the patient’s own dialyzer.

 The ANCSC dialysis clinic has 12 dialysis machines that can accommodate a total of 72 patients per day. A single dialysis session of three to four hours costs P3,500  inclusive of physician’s fee, Highflux Dialyzer and hemodialysis consumables.

The clinic is open from 7 am to 9pm and is manned by expert dialysis doctors and nurses.

 The close to 400-square meter clinic also has a conference room where the doctors educate the patients on their dialysis progress.

 "We don’t just stop at being a dialysis center. We take a holistic approach to the general well-being of our patients that’s why we educate them on proper dietary regimen, including their emotional and psychosocial well-being,” said Pidlaoan.

 In 2014, the Department of Health said close to 23,000 Filipinos underwent dialysis due to kidney failure, nearly four times higher than the 4,000 cases recorded in 2004, or a 10 to 15 percent increase a year.

 A “lethargic” lifestyle, wrong food choices and inadequate sleep are key factors leading to diabetes and hypertension that could result in kidney disease, the country’s 7th leading cause of death, the DOH said.   (FREEMAN)