Angeles City opens dialysis center for indigent patients

ANGELES CITY, Philippines – A renal care center at the local government-owned Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center (RLMMC) here has opened to serve the needs of indigent patients suffering from kidney diseases.

The newly constructed dialysis treatment center has 15 fully operational dialysis machines and complete set of medical equipment, is manned by three nephrologists, a head nurse, eight staff nurse and four technicians.

“We are proud to become the first city to have a dialysis center,” Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan said.

The mayor said the center will provide dialysis treatment to the growing number of renal patients, many of whom are poor and indigents who cannot afford the very high cost of dialysis in private treatment centers.

“I have always thought of a dialysis center in our city for affordable dialysis treatment,” Pamintuan said.

He thanked businessmen and fellow Kapampangans abroad, including World Medical Relief Inc. president George Samson, for helping him realize his dream. He also thanked the officers and members of the Angeles City Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce for funding the construction of the renal care unit. – Ric Sapnu, Ding Cervantes