Pending consultations:Garcia defers order on dialysis patients

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has temporarily put on hold the signing of an executive order requiring dialysis patients from the province to stay in Cebu City.

According to Garcia, Dr. Alexander Tan, the president of the Philippine Society of Nephrology- Central and Eastern Visayas Chapter, in a letter addressed to her, requested for the reconsideration of such protocol.

The executive order which would have been effective today upon signing, requires patients who have to travel from the province to Cebu City and back for dialysis treatment to temporarily lodge in the city.

To accommodate dialysis patients who could not afford to rent a space or who do not have relatives to stay with in Cebu City, the Cebu Provincial Government has offered the use of its Women and Children’s Center in Barangay Lahug.

The new protocol for patients undergoing dialysis from the province was thought of to avoid the possible transmission of the COVID-19 virus from Cebu City to the different component cities and municipalities of the province.

According to Garcia, many mayors have raised concerns over the risk of exposure from the dialysis patients of their respective local government units who frequent Cebu City.

However, the governor has decided to hold in abeyance the issuance of the said executive order until she has discussed the issue with Dr. Tan and his fellow members of the Philippine Society of Nephrology.

"In consideration of the request of the president and of course the Philippine Society of Nephrology- Central and Eastern Visayas Chapter, we are holding in abeyance the executive order and we are scheduling a meeting with Dr. Tan and the other officers of the Philippine Society of Nephrology so that we can adequately discuss this," she said.

In the press briefing, Garcia also asked for the understanding of mayors and emphasized that all sectors involved in the issue must be heard before she would come up with the decision.

"For our mayors, I ask for your understanding. This is not a very easy problem to solve. We have to consider all interests. Although in the end, I know that I must make that decision but let us also give the other sectors a chance to be heard," she said.

Garcia added that she has also received messages from relatives of dialysis patients asking for an extension of exemptions. She is set to meet with the doctors at 3 p.m. today.  FPL (FREEMAN)