Cebu hospitals now offer free knee, eye surgeries

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu provincial hospitals are now capable of performing total knee replacement and cataract removal procedures.

The Provincial Health Office made the announcement last week during a Capitol forum.

A knee replacement usually costs P400,000 to 500,000 in private hospitals, but provincial hospitals will offer it for free.

The implant material, which will be used to replace injured or damaged parts of the knee, will be purchased by the provincial government.

The surgery costs, on the other hand, will be shouldered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

Dr. Rene Catan, an orthopedic surgeon, said the surgeons will replace the damaged knee with an artificial joint, which requires a major surgery and hospitalization.

Based on reports, at least 80,000 Filipinos, who are suffering from severe arthritis, are in need of the knee replacement procedure.

The knee is the largest joint in the body and bears most of the body's weight. Once injured or damaged, regular movements like walking can be affected.

On the other hand, patients, who are suffering from poor eye sight due to cataract, can now avail of eye surgery at the Capitol-run hospitals.

Catan said PhilHealth will shoulder the operating costs.

Cataract surgery for one eye costs around P50,000, and even more depending on the lens to be used.

Interested patients are advised to call or visit the provincial hospitals or PHO for inquiry.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines cataract as a clouding of the lens of the eye which prevents clear vision.

Although most cases of cataract are related to the ageing process, occasionally children can be born with the condition, or a cataract may develop after eye injuries, inflammation, and some other eye diseases.

WHO said cataract is responsible for 51 percent of world blindness, which represents about 20 million people in 2010.

Cataract, it said, remains the leading cause of blindness. (FREEMAN)